EUROIMMUN releases new assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 reactive T cells

The reactivity of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells can be determined using a new CE-marked interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) from EUROIMMUN – the Quan-T-Cell System. The Quan-T-Cell ELISA used in combination with the Quan-T-Cell SARS-CoV-2 enables fast, automatable and quantitative determination of the IFN-γ released by SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells.

The assay is performed on heparinised whole blood samples, circumventing the need to prepare purified peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In the test procedure, the T cells in the patient samples are stimulated using spike protein-based antigens in the provided tubes and the released IFN-γ is subsequently measured using a fully automated quantitative ELISA.

The IGRA supports detection of past contact with SARS-CoV-2 or detection of an immune response following vaccination against the virus. The Quan-T-Cell System is already well established in the research field and has been used for numerous published studies investigating immune responses in healthy individuals and in vulnerable groups such as immunocompromised persons, elderly persons or dialysis patients.

The Quan-T-Cell System complements EUROIMMUN’s extensive portfolio of COVID-19 diagnostic tests, which encompasses RT-PCR assays, diverse ELISAs, immunoblot, a dried blood spot sample collection set, as well as comprehensive automation options for all tests.