Nucleocapsid Antibodies as an Optimal Serological Marker of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Longitudinal Study at the Thomayer University Hospital

‼️Ten percent of participants had no knowledge of a COVID-19 infection and 35% of positive individuals exhibited no symptoms.

Interesting N-Abs study with some noteworthy and confirmation findings!

➡️HCW had a 1 in 5 chance for a reinfection within the first year(Study: 2022 with Omicron reinfection)

➡️The study highlights a partial correlation between officially performed PCR tests and nucleocapsid antibody positivity, emphasizing the diagnostic significance of this phenomenon.

➡️Nucleocapsid antibodies can identify SARS-CoV-2 infections that PCR tests might miss. HCWs with positive N antibodies and false-negative PCR results could be due to low viral load, timing, or sample collection quality

➡️No significant correlation was found between N antibody values and time since the positive PCR test, indicating highly individualized antibody responses.

➡️N antibodies persisted for at least 6 months to a year, highlighting their diagnostic value for past infections.

➡️Hybrid immunity provides robust protection against reinfection. Studies on the Omicron variant reported the long-term effectiveness of hybrid immunity, particularly in protecting against severe disease

➡️Complete protection against symptomatic re-infection is limited, and waning immunity is a reality with current vaccines

➡️Given the lingering health consequences of COVID-19 in some individuals, SARS-CoV-2 remains a significant viral pathogen. #LC

➡️Although people without hybrid immunity might be more likely to contract COVID-19, those with hybrid immunity are not immune to the disease.

➡️Therefore, everyone, regardless of their COVID-19 history, should take steps to minimize their chances of SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as staying up to date with vaccinations.

➡️Nucleocapsid antibodies proved valuable in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics, and they may detect cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection missed by PCR tests.