MISSISSIPPI: MSU researchers’ rapid COVID-19 antibody test recognized with TechConnect Innovation Award
A Mississippi State University research team’s patent-pending method for rapidly detecting COVID-19 neutralizing antibodies is being recognized this week at a leading global technology conference.
A team of researchers led by Keun Seok Seo, associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, was recognized with an Innovation Award at the TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo in Washington, DC. The group developed a novel method to rapidly test for COVID-19 neutralizing antibodies, providing an affordable and fast method for testing that differentiates between neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies.
Seo explained that current commercially available blood tests cannot distinguish between antibodies that neutralize COVID-19 and other non-protective antibodies, but his test uses an innovative chimeric receptor protein that helps rapidly detect the neutralizing antibodies. The test can provide results in 15 minutes based on samples collected from a finger prick.
“This kit will be extremely useful to determine whether individuals still maintain high levels of protective immunity so that they do not develop asymptomatic infection and transmit SARS-Cov-2 to vulnerable populations,” Seo said. “This kit also aids in determining when people need a boosting immunization.”