Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41225345›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2025

Clinical performance of a dual-target SARS CoV-2 antibody assay using sera from Ghana.

Prince Jonathan Pappoe-Ashong, Julius Abraham A Mingle, Derrick Tetteh, Martha S Dsane-Lamptey, Joseph A Oliver-Commey, Peter Puplampu, Christian Jassoy

Erratum issuedAbstract read
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Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

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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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Prince Jonathan Pappoe-AshongInstitute of Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Clinics and Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. princejpappoe@yahoo.com.
Julius Abraham A MingleDepartment of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana.
Derrick TettehDepartment of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana.
Martha S Dsane-LampteyGa East Municipal Hospital, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana.
Joseph A Oliver-CommeyGhana Infectious Disease Centre, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana.
Peter PuplampuDepartment of Medicine, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana.
Christian JassoyInstitute of Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Clinics and Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. Christian.Jassoy@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDuring the pandemic, numerous serological tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) have been developed. However, limited data exist on the clinical performance of these immunoassays with sera from Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical performance characteristics of a lateral flow IgG antibody test using serum and plasma samples from Ghana.

methodWe assessed the performance of the COVID-19 Sero-NP/RBD test, a dual-target lateral flow assay designed to simultaneously detect IgG antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein (NP) and spike receptor-binding domain (RBD). Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were determined using pre-pandemic plasma samples (N = 300) and samples from recovered COVID-19 patients with varying symptom severity (N = 308). Test performance was further analyzed in relation to antibody concentration.

resultsThe combined detection of anti-RBD and anti-NP antibodies yielded a diagnostic sensitivity of 96.1% (95% CI: 94.1–98.4) and a specificity of 99.0% (95% CI: 97.1–99.8). Combined antigen detection significantly outperformed individual antigen targets (p < 0.001), with RBD-targeted responses demonstrating higher sensitivity than NP alone. Sensitivity declined with lower antibody titres, decreasing to 86.0% for samples with ≤ 25 BAU/mL and to 57.0% for those with ≤ 7.5 BAU/mL when either antigen was used alone.

conclusionThe COVID-19 Sero-NP/RBD lateral flow test demonstrated high accuracy in detecting past SARS CoV-2 infection in sera from Ghana. Dual-antigen targeting enhanced diagnostic sensitivity, particularly in individuals with low antibody titres. This assay may serve as a practical tool for assessing individual serostatus and monitoring population-level seroprevalence in Ghana and similar African settings.

Indexed as

Antibodies, ViralCOVID-19COVID-19 Serological TestingSARS-CoV-2AdolescentAdultAgedFemaleGhanaHumansImmunoassayImmunoglobulin GMaleMiddle AgedPhosphoproteinsSensitivity and SpecificityAntibodies, ViralImmunoglobulin GPhosphoproteinsSpike Glycoprotein, Coronavirusspike protein, SARS-CoV-2Nucleocapsid protein (NP)Performance characteristicsReceptor binding domain (RBD)Serology

Identifiers

PMID41225345
PMCPMC12613554

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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.