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@ARTICLE{Morales:303011,
      author       = {I. Morales and J. Bueggeln and A. Denzler and V.
                      Sonntag-Buck and K. Börner and P. Chlanda and L. Koeppel
                      and A. Deckert and T. Bärnighausen and M. Knop$^*$ and C.
                      M. Denkinger},
      title        = {{P}erformance and feasibility of self-microsampling of
                      capillary blood and saliva for serological testing of
                      {SARS}-{C}o{V}-2.},
      journal      = {PLOS ONE},
      volume       = {20},
      number       = {7},
      issn         = {1932-6203},
      address      = {San Francisco, California, US},
      publisher    = {PLOS},
      reportid     = {DKFZ-2025-01458},
      pages        = {e0327821},
      year         = {2025},
      abstract     = {Serology is a valuable tool to estimate infections,
                      case-fatality rates, and immunity. However, venipuncture and
                      clinical infrastructure hinder scalability. This study
                      evaluated the performance, feasibility and user experience
                      of using a microsampling device for self-collected capillary
                      blood and saliva to determine total SARS-CoV-2 S RBD
                      antibodies.It included 149 participants with (n = 48) or
                      without (n = 101) a known history of SARS-CoV-2 infection
                      and confirmed antibodies. Venous and capillary blood were
                      self- or professionally collected from all, and saliva was
                      self-collected by 46/48 participants with antibodies. The
                      detection of SARS-CoV-2 S RBD antibodies in all sample types
                      was tested using a high-throughput platform and agreement
                      was calculated. Intra- and inter-rater agreement between
                      serum and capillary blood in participants with an unknown
                      antibody status was also assessed. Participants evaluated
                      the device's user-friendliness through questionnaires.Among
                      the 48 participants with known past infection and
                      antibodies, agreement was $100\%$ $(95\%$ CI: 92.6-100)
                      between serum and capillary blood (self-collected or
                      professionally collected). Self-collected saliva had
                      slightly lower agreement with paired serum samples
                      $(95.7\%,$ CI: 85.2-99.5). For the 101 participants without
                      prior evidence of antibodies or infection, serum and
                      self-collected capillary blood had good intra-rater
                      agreement and serum and professionally collected capillary
                      blood had almost perfect intra-rater agreement. Inter-rater
                      agreement was also almost perfect. While $81.8\%$ found the
                      self-finger prick easy, $53.4\%$ found using the
                      microsampler easy. Among those who collected saliva,
                      $84.8\%$ found capillary blood easier to collect compared to
                      saliva $(52.2\%).Our$ results show that detecting SARS-CoV-2
                      antibodies from capillary blood and saliva collected with
                      the VAMS microsampling device is feasible and yields valid
                      results. To ensure accuracy and reliability, additional
                      training in self-sampling techniques may be essential. The
                      positive user experience further underscores the
                      microsampling device's potential for scalable
                      serosurveillance and strengthening pandemic preparedness
                      efforts.},
      keywords     = {Humans / Saliva: virology / COVID-19: diagnosis / COVID-19:
                      blood / COVID-19: virology / Female / SARS-CoV-2: immunology
                      / SARS-CoV-2: isolation $\&$ purification / Male / Middle
                      Aged / Antibodies, Viral: blood / Antibodies, Viral:
                      analysis / Adult / Feasibility Studies / COVID-19
                      Serological Testing: methods / Aged / Specimen Handling:
                      methods / Blood Specimen Collection: methods / Capillaries /
                      Antibodies, Viral (NLM Chemicals)},
      cin          = {A260},
      ddc          = {610},
      cid          = {I:(DE-He78)A260-20160331},
      pnm          = {311 - Zellbiologie und Tumorbiologie (POF4-311)},
      pid          = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-311},
      typ          = {PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
      pubmed       = {pmid:40644438},
      pmc          = {pmc:PMC12250565},
      doi          = {10.1371/journal.pone.0327821},
      url          = {https://inrepo02.dkfz.de/record/303011},
}