Performance of the Boditech iCHROMA Covid-19 IgG antibody assay with the external quality control for UK NIBSC (National Institute of Biological Standards and Control)

Background: There is a need for laboratories to participate in EQA schemes to achieve a harmonization of test results and to improve serological testing and research on COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2. The Boditech iCHROMA point of care immunoassay analyser has a Covid-19 antibody assay for the qualitative determination of IgG antibodies in human whole blood/serum/plasma. The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) in the United Kingdom has a portfolio of reference and research reagents, including reagents for EQA that are available to laboratories to help them set up and develop accurate diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 assays. Objectives: To determine the performance of the Boditech iCHROMA Covid-19 IgG antibody assay using the external quality control material provided by the UK NIBSC (National Institute for Biological Standards and Control). Results: The Boditech iCHROMA Covid-19 IgG assay using the cut off index >1.1, reported the results of the 33 positive control samples as positive with index range from 19.50 – 29.00, with a mean of 23.75 and standard deviation of SD of 2.53. It also reported the results of the 33 negative control samples as negative with an index range of 0.00 for all samples. Conclusion: The performance of the Boditech iCHROMA Covid-19 IgG antibody assay using external quality control material from the UK NIBSC was very good, confirming the precision of the Boditech iCHROMA Covid 19 IgG antibody method.