Dried Blood Spot Analysis for SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Detection

Dried blood spot (DBS) analysis has emerged as a robust tool for serological assessment of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and vaccine-induced immunity. By collecting capillary blood via finger prick onto filter paper cards, DBS sampling offers a minimally invasive, low-cost alternative to venous blood collection. Once dried, the samples can be transported at ambient temperature and stored for extended periods without significant loss of antibody integrity. Analytical workflows typically involve elution of immunoglobulins from the paper matrix followed by quantitative assays, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) or surrogate neutralisation tests, to measure binding or functional antibodies against viral antigens. DBS methods have demonstrated concordance with paired serum or plasma measurements, enabling large-scale serosurveys in remote, resource-limited and home-sampling contexts. Crucially, adaptations of high-throughput platforms allow longitudinal monitoring of antibody kinetics, neutralising capacity and correlates of protection, thereby informing public health strategies and vaccine policy on a global scale.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Quantitative comparison of neutralising antibody responses using finger-stick DBS and matched sera has confirmed that eluted samples accurately reflect functional antibody titres across acute infection, convalescence and post-vaccination cohorts. Stability studies have shown that neutralising responses remain detectable after weeks of ambient storage, supporting the use of DBS in field settings. In addition, a standardised ELISA protocol incorporating mail-in sampling kits has been adapted to define stringent thresholds for IgG and IgM seropositivity, with minimal cross-reactivity against endemic coronaviruses. This protocol underpins population-level serosurveillance by combining at-home collection with centralised high-precision analysis. Furthermore, an immunoassay-based surrogate virus neutralisation test has been validated on DBS, quantifying the inhibition of spike–ACE2 interaction with performance metrics comparable to live-virus assays. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that DBS platforms can be leveraged for both binding and functional antibody measurements at scale.

Dried Blood Spot Analysis for SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Detection publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in dried blood spot analysis for sars-cov-2 antibody detection across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Dried Blood Spot (DBS): Capillary blood collected by finger prick and absorbed onto filter paper, then dried for storage and transport.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA): Laboratory technique that uses antigen-coated surfaces and enzyme-linked antibodies to quantify specific immunoglobulins.

Neutralising Antibody (nAb): Antibody that inhibits viral entry into host cells by blocking key functional sites, such as the spike protein’s receptor binding domain.

Receptor Binding Domain (RBD): Segment of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein responsible for binding the host ACE2 receptor, often targeted in serological assays.

Capillary Blood: Small volume of blood obtained from peripheral microvasculature via finger prick, suitable for DBS collection.

References

1. At-home sampling to meet geographical challenges for serological assessment of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in a rural region of northern Sweden, March to May 2021: a retrospective cohort study. Eurosurveillance (2023).
2. Quantifying neutralising antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 in dried blood spots (DBS) and paired sera. Scientific Reports (2023).
3. Standardization of ELISA protocols for serosurveys of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic using clinical and at-home blood sampling. Nature Communications (2021).
4. A surrogate virus neutralization test to quantify antibody-mediated inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 in finger stick dried blood spot samples. Scientific Reports (2021).
5. Dried blood spot specimens for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing: A multi-site, multi-assay comparison. PLOS ONE (2021).
6. A Dried Blood Spot protocol for high-throughput quantitative analysis of SARS-CoV-2 RBD serology based on the Roche Elecsys system. Microbiology Spectrum (2024).