Increasing test specificity without impairing sensitivity - lessons learned from SARS-CoV-2 serology
Perkmann T., Koller T., Perkmann-Nagele N., Ozsvar-Kozma M., Eyre D., Matthews P., Matthews P., Bown A., Stoesser N., Stoesser N., Breyer M-K., Breyer-Kohansal R., Burghuber O., Hartl S., Aletaha D., Sieghart D., Quehenberger P., Marculescu R., Mucher P., Radakovics A., Klausberger M., Duerkop M., Holzer B., Hartmann B., Strassl R., Leitner G., Grebien F., Gerner W., Grabherr R., Wagner O., Binder C., Haslacher H.
Background: Serological tests are widely used in various medical disciplines for diagnostic and monitoring purposes. Unfortunately, the sensitivity and specificity of test systems is often poor, leaving room for false positive and false negative results. However, conventional methods used to increase specificity decrease sensitivity and vice versa. Using SARS-CoV-2 serology as an example, we propose here a novel testing strategy: the "Sensitivity Improved Two-Test" or "SIT 2 " algorithm. Methods SIT 2 involves confirmatory re-testing of samples with results falling in a predefined retesting-zone of an initial screening test, with adjusted cut-offs to increase sensitivity. We verified and compared the performance of SIT 2 to single tests and orthogonal testing (OTA) in an Austrian cohort (1,117 negative, 64 post-COVID positive samples) and validated the algorithm in an independent British cohort (976 negatives, 536 positives). Results The specificity of SIT 2 was superior to single tests and non-inferior to OTA. The sensitivity was maintained or even improved using SIT 2 when compared to single tests or OTA. SIT 2 allowed correct identification of infected individuals even when a live virus neutralization assay could not detect antibodies. Compared to single testing or OTA, SIT 2 significantly reduced total test errors to 0.46% (0.24-0.65) or 1.60% (0.94-2.38) at both 5% or 20% seroprevalence. Conclusion For SARS-CoV-2 serology, SIT 2 proved to be the best diagnostic choice at both 5% and 20% seroprevalence in all tested scenarios. It is an easy to apply algorithm and can potentially be helpful for the serology of other infectious diseases.