Lab-on-a-chip

Multiplexed lab-on-a-chip bioassays for testing antibodies against SARS-CoV 2 and its variants in multiple individuals

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 and its variants is still a major public safety issue worldwide. The “alpha” variant B.1.1.7, the “gamma” variant P.1, the “beta” variant B.1.351, and the “delta” variant B.1.617 are of particular concern because of their high prevalence. Large-scale vaccination and sensitive detection are vital for preventing the spread of Covid-19 infection.

portrait of Xingyu Jiang
Prof Xingyu Jiang

Image source: Southern University of Science and Technology

To this end, teams from the Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, and from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China, have established multiplexed lab-on-a-chip bioassays for testing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. 

‘Virus neutralization assays that can measure neutralizing antibodies in serum are vital for determining vaccine efficacy,’ said Prof Yong Xia, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. Compared with ELISA, their method demonstrates a low consumption of sample and reagents (10 μL), a low threshold for detection (0.08 ng/mL), a rapid sample-to-answer time (about 70 min), and multiplexed ability (5 targets in each of 7 samples in one assay). 

Results were published in 2022 in Analytical Chemistry. ‘We can also ramp up the throughput as needed,’ said Prof Xingyu Jiang. His team performed a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) for all volunteers. Compared with PRNT, their assay is fast, accurate, inexpensive, and multiplexed with multiple-sample processing ability, which is good for large-scale serodiagnosis and vaccine evaluation.

01.11.2022

Related articles

Photo

News • Infectious disease diagnostics

POCT for remote areas: Portable pathology passes the test

When point-of-care testing (POCT) models for diagnosing infectious disease are effective, the quality of pathology results can be equivalent to laboratory tests, new research shows.

Photo

News • Immune system insights

New corona research could improve vaccination techniques

New research from Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet and Herlev and Gentofte Hospital has shed new light on the immune system’s complex struggle against the coronavirus.

Photo

News • Microfluidics and electrochemical transduction

Paper-based device for rapid diagnosis of lung diseases

A new device that combines microfluidics on paper, electrochemical transduction and immunoassays on magnetic nanoparticles is useful for easy and rapid diagnosis of lung diseases.

Related products

Subscribe to Newsletter