Siemens COVID-19 total antibody, molecular tests
June 2020—Siemens Healthineers announced it is shipping worldwide its CE-marked, laboratory-based total antibody test to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies in blood. The test has demonstrated 100 percent sensitivity and 99.8 percent specificity and is available on the Atellica Solution immunoassay analyzer and the Advia Centaur XP and XPT analyzers. The test detects antibodies to a spike protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. “Studies indicate that certain (neutralizing) antibodies to the spike protein can disarm SARS-CoV-2, presumably by interfering with the ability of the virus to bind, penetrate, and infect human cells,” according to a press release from the company. “Multiple potential vaccines in development for SARS-CoV-2 include the spike protein within their focus.”