Serology tests involve testing bodily fluids for the presence of antibodies or other substances. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the SciLifeLab Autoimmunity and Serology Profiling unit has conducted serology tests for antibodies targetting SARS-CoV-2 proteins. The unit has continuously provided the latest data to the Swedish Pathogens Portal. In each of the below sections, we show the numbers of samples that were positive, negative or research and development (R&D).
- Positive tests: Serology tests indicating the presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies targetting SARS-CoV-2 proteins.
- Negative tests: Serology tests indicating the absence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies targetting SARS-CoV-2 proteins.
- R&D tests: All of the remaining serum, plasma, and saliva samples that were completed to test the levels IgG, IgM, or IgA antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 proteins. This includes all of the positive and negative controls, all replicated and re-ran samples and assays, all samples analysed during the continuous development and optimisation of the tests, technically failed samples, and all research associated projects.
Number of serology tests completed
The below plot shows the total number (sum total) of serology tests related to SARS-CoV-2 completed by the SciLifeLab Autoimmunity and Serology Profiling unit since the beginning of the pandemic. The proportion of tests that indicated an infection with SARS-CoV-2 (proportion positive) is also shown. The plot shows the total number of positive, negative, and research & development (R&D) tests completed over time.
Weekly serology tests
The number of SARS-CoV-2 serology tests completed by the SciLifeLab Autoimmunity and Serology Profiling unit each week, divided according to whether tests were positive, negative, or research & development (R&D).
Cumulative serology tests
The cumulative number of positive, negative, and research & development (R&D) SARS-CoV-2 serology tests completed over time at the SciLifeLab Autoimmunity and Serology Profiling unit.
About serology testing at the Autoimmunity and Serology Profiling unit
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, work was initiated to develop a serological assay for large scale testing of plasma and serum samples for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. The work was undertaken by three research groups at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and the Autoimmunity and Serology Profiling unit at SciLifeLab. The development of the assay has been funded by Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Erling-Persson Family Foundation, SciLifeLab, KTH, Region Stockholm, Atlas Copco, Mercodia, Family Christian and Jennifer Dahlberg, and Family Birgitta Klasén.
By comparing and combining a large number of variants of SARS-CoV-2 proteins as antigens, a highly sensitive and specific multiplex bead-based assay was established. The high-throughput assay can be used to process up to 8000 samples per week. The vast majority of samples analysed to date originated from healthcare personnel, population-based studies, personnel in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, and from within multiple research collaborations. Collaborators and sample providers include Danderyd University Hospital (see news involving a follow-up study at Danderyd University Hospital), Karolinska University Hospital, Uppsala University Hospital, Skåne University Hospital, Örebro University Hospital, Sophiahemmet Hospital, Public Health Agency of Sweden, RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden), AstraZeneca, Cytiva, SVPH, Karolinska Institutet, KTH, Uppsala University, and Lund University.
Check out the Autoimmunity and Serology Profiling unit page on the SciLifeLab website to find out more about the unit itself. Publications produced by studies making use of the unit are available in the SciLifeLab Infrastructure Publications database.