Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35170269›Full record

ArticleClinical chemistry and laboratory medicine2022

Ultrasensitive assay for saliva-based SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection.

Annie Ren, Dorsa Sohaei, Antigona Ulndreaj, Oscar D Pons-Belda, Amaia Fernandez-Uriarte, Ioannis Zacharioudakis, George B Sigal, Martin Stengelin, Anu Mathew, Christopher Campbell and 10 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 14% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Rapid, point-of-care antigen tests for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2022
    Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.

Annie RenDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Dorsa SohaeiDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Antigona UlndreajLunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
Oscar D Pons-BeldaLunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
Amaia Fernandez-UriarteLunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
Ioannis ZacharioudakisBiology Department, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
George B SigalMeso Scale Diagnostics, LLC. (MSD), Rockville, MD, USA.
Martin StengelinMeso Scale Diagnostics, LLC. (MSD), Rockville, MD, USA.
Anu MathewMeso Scale Diagnostics, LLC. (MSD), Rockville, MD, USA.
Christopher CampbellMeso Scale Diagnostics, LLC. (MSD), Rockville, MD, USA.
Nikhil PadmanabhanMeso Scale Diagnostics, LLC. (MSD), Rockville, MD, USA.
Daniel RomeroMeso Scale Diagnostics, LLC. (MSD), Rockville, MD, USA.
Jessica JoeMeso Scale Diagnostics, LLC. (MSD), Rockville, MD, USA.
Antoninus SoosaipillaiDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
Vathany KulasingamDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Tony MazzulliDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Xinliu A LiDepartment of Microbiology, University Health Network, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
Allison McGeerDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Eleftherios P DiamandisDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1589-820X
Ioannis PrassasLunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
Mount Sinai Hospital · CAMeso Scale Discovery (United States) · USUniversity Health Network · CAUniversity of Crete · GR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesWidespread SARS-CoV-2 testing is invaluable for identifying asymptomatic/pre-symptomatic individuals. There remains a technological gap for highly reliable, easy, and quick SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests suitable for frequent mass testing. Compared to nasopharyngeal (NP) swab-based tests, saliva-based methods are attractive due to easier and safer sampling. Current saliva-based SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests (RATs) are hindered by limited analytical sensitivity. Here, we report one of the first ultrasensitive, saliva-based SARS-CoV-2 antigen assays with an analytical sensitivity of <0.32 pg/mL, corresponding to four viral RNA copies/µL, which is comparable to that of PCR-based tests.

methodsUsing the novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL)-based immunoassay, we measured the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) antigen concentration in 105 salivas, obtained from non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 patients. We then verified the results with a second, independent cohort of 689 patients (3.8% SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate). We also compared our method with a widely used point-of-care rapid test.

resultsIn the first cohort, at 100% specificity, the sensitivity was 92%. Our assay correctly identified samples with viral loads up to 35 CT cycles by saliva-based PCR. Paired NP swab-based PCR results were obtained for 86 cases. Our assay showed high concordance with saliva-based and NP swab-based PCR in samples with negative (<0.32 pg/mL) and strongly positive (>2 pg/mL) N antigen concentrations. In the second cohort, at 100% specificity, sensitivity was also 92%. Our assay is about 700-fold more sensitive than the Abbott Panbio Rapid Test.

conclusionsWe demonstrated the ultrasensitivity and specificity assay and its concordance with PCR. This novel assay is especially valuable when compliance to frequent swabbing may be problematic.

Indexed as

COVID-19SalivaAntigens, ViralCOVID-19 TestingHumansNasopharynxSARS-CoV-2Sensitivity and SpecificityAntigens, Viralelectrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassaymass testingnasopharyngeal (NP) swabsalivaSARS-CoV-2sensitivity

Identifiers

PMID35170269
OpenAlexW4226064133

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.