Large-scale serological profiling of SARS-CoV-2 and related human CoVs with high-throughput microfluidic nano-immunoassays

During the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it became increasingly clear that there is a lack of diagnostic innovation in the field of emerging viruses. New, sophisticated, high-throughput technologies are urgently needed, such as reliable and accurate immuno-assays that can measure previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in thousands of samples in parallel. Such assays could be used to: i) determine the seroprevalence in the general population and in high-risk groups such as health care workers, ii) estimate existing risk factors or identify risk groups for contracting COVID-19, and iii) monitor population-immunity after natural infection or after vaccination, once a vaccine is administered to large parts of the population. We recently developed an entire suite of microfluidic nano-immunoassay devices, including a device capable of analyzing 1,024 serum samples in parallel with limits of detection (LOD) similar or better than standard ELISAs. This method requires only minute amounts of reagents leading to a cost per assay of a fraction of a cent and assuring reagent supply. We propose to apply this technology to serve as a serological profiling assay to detect IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and other circulating human-pathogenic CoVs for epidemiological sero-monitoring.