<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Serological testing can be a powerful complementary approach to achieve timely diagnosis of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, along with nucleic acid detection. Immunoglobulin (Ig) A antibodies are less frequently utilized to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection than IgM and IgG antibodies, even though IgA antibodies play an important role in protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. This review discusses the differences in kinetics and assay performance between IgA and IgM antibodies and the factors influencing antibody responses. It highlights the potential usefulness of analyzing IgA antibodies for the early detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The early appearance of IgA and the high sensitivity of IgA-based immunoassays can aid in diagnosing coronavirus disease 2019. However, because of cross-reactivity, it is important to recognize the only moderate specificity of the early detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgA antibodies against spike antigens. Either the analysis of antibodies targeting the nucleocapsid antigen or a combination of antibodies against the nucleocapsid and spike antigens may strengthen the accuracy of serological evaluation.</p>
</abstract>

Serological testing can be a powerful complementary approach to achieve timely diagnosis of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, along with nucleic acid detection. Immunoglobulin (Ig) A antibodies are less frequently utilized to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection than IgM and IgG antibodies, even though IgA antibodies play an important role in protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. This review discusses the differences in kinetics and assay performance between IgA and IgM antibodies and the factors influencing antibody responses. It highlights the potential usefulness of analyzing IgA antibodies for the early detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The early appearance of IgA and the high sensitivity of IgA-based immunoassays can aid in diagnosing coronavirus disease 2019. However, because of cross-reactivity, it is important to recognize the only moderate specificity of the early detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgA antibodies against spike antigens. Either the analysis of antibodies targeting the nucleocapsid antigen or a combination of antibodies against the nucleocapsid and spike antigens may strengthen the accuracy of serological evaluation.

Potential Usefulness of IgA for the Early Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Comparison With IgM

Polish Journal of Microbiology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Serological testing can be a powerful complementary approach to achieve timely diagnosis of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection,...

IgA	IgM	Time point	Target antigen		Principles		References
IgA	IgM	Time point	IgA	IgM	IgA	IgM	References
100%	0%	5–7 days	S1	N + S	ELISA	CLIA	Infantino et al. 2021
92.7%	85.4%	1–7 days	N	N	ELISA	ELISA	Guo et al. 2020
31.3%	14.6%	1–7 days	RBD	RBD	PRI	PRI	Sterlin et al. 2021
23.0%	2.1%	1–7 days	N	N	PRI	PRI	Sterlin et al. 2021
60.0%	53.3%	1–7 days	N	N	ELISA	ELISA	Zervou et al. 2021
28.0%	10%	1–7 days	N/S	N/S	CMIA	CMIA	Pisanic et al. 2021
50.0%*	0%*	1–7 days	N/S	N/S	CMIA	CMIA	Pisanic et al. 2021

Potential Usefulness of IgA for the Early Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Comparison With IgM

Article Category: Minireview

Online veröffentlicht: 20. Juni 2024

Seitenbereich: 123 - 130

Eingereicht: 29. Feb. 2024

Akzeptiert: 22. Apr. 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33073/pjm-2024-019

Schlüsselwörter
early detection, IgA isotype, kinetics of antibodies, SARS-CoV-2, serological test

© 2024 Pei Wang, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1.

Positive detection rate for IgA and IgM at an early stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Potential Usefulness of IgA for the Early Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Comparison With IgM

Article Category: Minireview

Online veröffentlicht: 20. Juni 2024

Seitenbereich: 123 - 130

Eingereicht: 29. Feb. 2024

Akzeptiert: 22. Apr. 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33073/pjm-2024-019

Schlüsselwörterearly detection, IgA isotype, kinetics of antibodies, SARS-CoV-2, serological test

© 2024 Pei Wang, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1.

Positive detection rate for IgA and IgM at an early stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Schlüsselwörter
early detection, IgA isotype, kinetics of antibodies, SARS-CoV-2, serological test