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Evaluation of a rapid test against two ELISAs for a SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence survey in Kibera informal settlement, Nairobi, Kenya
  • +13
  • Jane Carter Y,
  • Samoel Khamadi,
  • Joseph Mwangi,
  • Samuel Muhula,
  • Stephen Munene M,
  • Lucy Kanyara,
  • Joyceline Kinyua,
  • Nancy Lagat,
  • Judy Chege,
  • Robert Oira,
  • Alex Maiyo,
  • Roy Stewart,
  • Maarten Postma,
  • Jelle Stekelenburg,
  • Marinus van Hulst,
  • Joachim Osur
Jane Carter Y
Amref Health Africa

Corresponding Author:j.y.carter@umcg.nl

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Samoel Khamadi
Kenya Medical Research Institute
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Joseph Mwangi
Kenya Medical Research Institute
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Samuel Muhula
Amref Health Africa
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Stephen Munene M
Amref Health Africa
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Lucy Kanyara
Kenya Medical Research Institute
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Joyceline Kinyua
Kenya Medical Research Institute
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Nancy Lagat
Kenya Medical Research Institute
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Judy Chege
Kenya Medical Research Institute
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Robert Oira
Kenya Medical Research Institute
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Alex Maiyo
Kenya Medical Research Institute
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Roy Stewart
Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen
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Maarten Postma
Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen
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Jelle Stekelenburg
Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen
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Marinus van Hulst
Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen
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Joachim Osur
Amref International University
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Abstract

Introduction The performance of a rapid test was evaluated against two ELISAs as a potentially useful tool to determine exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in low resource settings. A serosurvey was conducted in Kibera informal settlement, Nairobi, Kenya, where low numbers of COVID-19 were recorded during the pandemic. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was performed in 10 of 14 villages in Kibera informal settlement, Kenya’s largest slum community, in August 2021, before general vaccine roll-out. Participants were age one year and above with no symptoms of COVID-19. Capillary blood samples were tested using the Standard Q COVID-19 IgM/IgG Combo rapid test, Platelia SARS-CoV-2 Total Ab (IgM/IgG/IgA) Assay, and Wantai Total Ab (IgM/IgG/IgA) ELISA for SARS-CoV-2 which served as the reference test. Results Samples were obtained from 438 participants; in 72 samples blood was insufficient for the Platelia ELISA. Specificity of the rapid test and Platelia ELISA were similar (>93%) but sensitivity was low (rapid test 61.3%; Platelia ELISA 83.4%). The Wantai ELISA showed greater positivity (82.6%) than the rapid test (51.8%) and Platelia ELISA (69.7%). Conclusions The Wantai ELISA showed superior performance in this serosurvey. Point-of-care tests for convenient screening for SARS-CoV-2 exposure for surveillance studies need to be developed.