Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42267669›Full record

ArticleTransfusion2026

Impact of delayed blood donation sample processing and testing on SARS-CoV-2 serological assay results in an evolving pandemic response.

Marion C Lanteri, Valerie Green, Hasan Sulaeman, Mars Stone, James Haynes, Clara Di Germanio, Sakina Smith, Patricia G Villaflor, Jamel Groves, Phillip C Williamson and 6 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Transfusion, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. 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

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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Marion C LanteriCreative Testing Solutions, Tempe, Arizona, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0855-7487
Valerie GreenCreative Testing Solutions, Tempe, Arizona, USA.
Hasan SulaemanVitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA.
Mars StoneUniversity of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
James HaynesAmerican Red Cross, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
Clara Di GermanioUniversity of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Sakina SmithVitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA.
Patricia G VillaflorVitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA.
Jamel GrovesAmerican Red Cross, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
Phillip C WilliamsonCreative Testing Solutions, Tempe, Arizona, USA.
Susan L StramerInfectious Disease Consultant, North Potomac, Maryland, USA.
Melissa M CoughlinNational Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Jefferson M JonesNational Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4974-9058
Eduard GrebeVitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7046-7245
Michael P BuschUniversity of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1446-125X
Paula SaaAmerican Red Cross, Rockville, Maryland, USA.

Funding

CDC HHS 75D30120C08170JG CDC HHS 75D30120C08170Ortho Clinical Diagnostics
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe two largest US blood collection organizations led a multiphased, multicenter nationwide SARS-CoV-2 blood donor-based serosurveillance program. The potential impact of delayed sample processing and prolonged refrigerated or frozen storage on anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection was investigated.

methodsAnti-spike (S) IgG and anti-nucleocapsid (N) total immunoglobulin levels were compared for 20 paired plasma/serum samples tested fresh and frozen after separation from cellular components on Day 5 or after ≤40 days of 4°C storage; 10 paired plasma/serum samples separated on Day 5 and tested immediately or after ≤67 days of 4°C storage; and 85 plasma and 950 serum samples tested fresh on Day 1 and after ≤209 days of -20°C storage post-separation. Proportional Bland-Altman analyses were used to estimate average bias and 95% limits of agreement (LOA).

resultsAntibody reactivity was stable over time regardless of serum or plasma processing delays or prolonged refrigerated or frozen storage. Bland-Altman analyses suggest only minor deviations for anti-S antibodies for samples separated within 5 days and tested frozen compared to fresh (bias: 4.23%, 95% LOA: -10.02; 18.47), after ≤40 days of storage at 4°C pre-separation (9.51%, [-73.20; 92.22]) and after ≤67 days at 4°C post-separation (-14.04%, [-28.12; 0.04]). Similar observations were obtained for anti-N antibodies including samples retested after ≤209 days of storage at -20°C (-20.3%, [-81; 40.5]).

conclusionDespite challenges encountered in sample access and processing during a rapidly evolving pandemic, sample processing variability and testing delays minimally impacted serologic results and thus provide evidence for the validity of results in studies requiring variable sample handling conditions.

Indexed as

Antibodies, ViralBlood DonorsCOVID-19COVID-19 Serological TestingSARS-CoV-2Blood DonationBlood PreservationHumansImmunoglobulin GPandemicsSpecimen HandlingTime FactorsAntibodies, ViralImmunoglobulin G

Identifiers

PMID42267669
PMCPMC13569327

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.