Skip to main content
Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2020 Aug 11:jiaa505. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa505

SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody Titers in Convalescent Plasma and Recipients in New Mexico: An Open Treatment Study in COVID-19 Patients

Steven B Bradfute 1, Ivy Hurwitz 1, Alexandra V Yingling 1, Chunyan Ye 1, Qiuying Cheng 1, Timothy P Noonan 2, Jay S Raval 3, Nestor R Sosa 2, Gregory J Mertz 1, Douglas J Perkins 1, Michelle S Harkins 4,
PMCID: PMC7454720  PMID: 32779705

Abstract

Background

Convalescent plasma (CP) is a potentially important therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, knowledge regarding neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers in donor plasma and their impact in acute COVID-19 patients remains largely undetermined. We measured NAb titers in CP and in acute COVID-19 patients before and after transfusion through the traditional FDA IND pathway.

Methods

We performed a single-arm interventional trial measuring NAb and total antibody titers before and after CP transfusion over a 14-day period in hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04434131 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04434131)

Results

NAb titers in the donor CP units were low (<1:40 to 1:160) and had no effect on recipient neutralizing activity one day after transfusion. NAb titers were detected in 6/12 patients upon enrollment and in 11/12 patients during at least two timepoints. Average titers peaked on day 7 and declined towards day 14 (P=0.004). NAb and IgG titers were correlated in donor plasma units (ρ=0.938, P<0.0001) and in the cumulative patient measures (ρ=0.781, P<0.0001).

Conclusions

CP infusion did not alter recipient NAb titers. Pre-screening of CP may be necessary for selecting donors with high levels of neutralizing activity for infusion into patients with COVID-19.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, antibodies, neutralizing, convalescent, plasma


Articles from The Journal of Infectious Diseases are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

RESOURCES