key: cord-0709079-1uqkcj3a
authors: Rapp, Alexandra R.; Ogunbileje, John O.; Djouodo-Nemzou, Diane; Okorodudu, Anthony O.
title: Methods Matter – Tailoring SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Targets to Vaccination Status
date: 2021-04-17
journal: Clin Chim Acta
DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2021.04.009
sha: e485845d7c2a7c7aa5eefb26a7ae4d2b8d2d5554
doc_id: 709079
cord_uid: 1uqkcj3a

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The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unparalleled challenges, but it has also catalyzed 5 the implementation of emerging technologies, most notably the widespread use of mRNA 6 vaccines. While using mRNA vaccination has not been entirely novel and has long been a 7 subject of medical research [1] , the FDA Emergency Use Authorization of BioNTech-Pfizer and 8 Moderna vaccines has brought mRNA vaccination to the medical forefront.

As progressively more people become vaccinated, we have noticed an increasing number CoV-2 IgG testing performed at outside facilities who unexpectedly tested negative. Because 17 mRNA vaccines contain genetic information only for the spike protein, we suspected that these 18 patients were tested with antibody assays that targeted exclusively nucleocapsid antibodies. This 19 hypothesis is in accordance with the CDC's statement that vaccinated individuals may test 20 positive for antibodies against the spike protein but not for antibodies against other non-vaccine 21 antigenic proteins [3] .

To further investigate these concerns, we tested serum samples from 10 vaccinated 

Developing mRNA-vaccine 62 technologies

Food & Drug Administration

COVID-19) Emergency Use Authorizations for Medical Devices

Interpreting Diagnostic Tests for SARS-CoV-2, 72

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