Abingdon Health plc announces the launch, initially for research use only (RUO), of a score-card product available alongside the AbC-19™ rapid test, which provides a semi-quantitative result to indicate the strength of antibody response and possible immunity. This is achieved by the use of a simple line intensity score-card as illustrated here which is available as an accessory to the standard Lateral Flow device (“LFD”) for research applications.

The AbC-19™ LFD produces a line in the presence of IgG neutralizing antibodies to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as are produced both after vaccination and natural infection.

The intensity of the line, which can be seen visually, is proportional to the amount of these IgG neutralizing antibodies present in the finger-prick blood sample with higher levels of antibodies producing a stronger test line.

The use of the score-card has been referred to in studies, including one from the University of Birmingham, illustrating the use of the AbC-19^™ LFD in semi-quantitative format and showing the test line response to be proportional to the amount of antibodies in an international standard^1,2.

The use of the score-card accessory alongside AbC-19TM LFD will allow scientific communities to help further understand the presence and strength of IgG neutralizing antibodies following infection and/or vaccination, a key indicator of protective immune response, and an additional tool to allow stratification of patients in need of booster vaccinations.

Abingdon Health is preparing the CE-marking of this scorecard accessory for the AbC-19TM LFD and ultimately, when the scientific community determines the level of antibodies that infer immunity, has the potential to add a ‘cut-off’ to the score-card.

Recent research has highlighted that immuno-compromised individuals generate lower levels of antibodies compared with healthier people following two vaccine doses³, and there are variations in vaccine response between males and females⁴.

A study published on 30 August 2021 highlighted different responses in patient cohorts when comparing the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines⁵, with one study noting antibody levels start to reduce at around 2-3 months⁶.

Determining the presence and strength of IgG neutralizing antibodies enables governments, individuals, and businesses to make more informed decisions about COVID-safety measures and vaccine programme deployment to the most vulnerable.

In areas of scarce vaccine supply IgG neutralizing antibody testing could be deployed to stratify the population and direct vaccine to those with no or limited immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Abingdon Health notes the growing number of administrations such as Hong Kong7 that are now utilizing post-vaccine serology testing, in Hong Kong’s case with a view to shortening quarantine measures for inbound travelers and the Company believes that the addition of the Semi-Quantitative scorecard accessory will aid further deployment of on-site serology tests such as AbC-19TM.

Chris Yates, Chief Executive Officer of Abingdon Health, commented: “The launch of the semi-quantitative accessory to AbC-19™ is an important addition to the tools available to researchers as they qualify and measure the antibody level appropriate to infer protective immunity. There is a lot of work underway internationally to set a globally recognized standard threshold and we welcome the establishment of an international standard that will help governments manage their vaccine and booster programmes. Devices such as the AbC-19™ help democratize testing and allow individuals to know their own neutralizing antibody status, assess their own risk, and seek appropriate advice when indicated.”

References:
1. AbC-19™ IgG LFD successfully used semi-quantitively to monitor vaccine responses to variant proteins

2. Cross reactivity of serological response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with viral variants of concern detected by lateral flow immunoassays

3. Covid-19: 40% of patients with weakened immune system mount lower response to vaccines

4. Israeli research finds COVID-19 antibody levels differ between men and women

5. Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Response Following Vaccination With BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273

6. Vaccine antibody levels start to wane at around 2-3 months

7. Government tightens border control measures to build anti-epidemic barrier

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