Validation and Establishment of the SARS-CoV-2 Lentivirus Surrogate Neutralization Assay as a Prescreening Tool for the Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test

Neutralization assays are important for understanding and quantifying neutralizing antibody responses toward severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The SARS-CoV-2 lentivirus surrogate neutralization assay (SCLSNA) can be used in biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) laboratories and has been shown to be a reliable alternative approach to the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). In this study, we optimized and validated the SCLSNA to assess its ability as a comparator and prescreening method to support the PRNT. Comparability between the PRNT and SCLSNA was determined through clinical sensitivity and specificity evaluations. Clinical sensitivity and specificity assays produced acceptable results, with 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 94% to 100%) specificity and 100% (95% CI, 94% to 100%) sensitivity against ancestral Wuhan spike-pseudotyped lentivirus. The sensitivity and specificity against B.1.1.7 spike-pseudotyped lentivirus were 88.3% (95% CI, 77.8% to 94.2%) and 100% (95% CI, 94% to 100%), respectively. Assay precision measuring intra-assay variability produced acceptable results for high (50% PRNT [PRNT(50)], 1:≥640), mid (PRNT(50), 1:160), and low (PRNT(50), 1:40) antibody titer concentration ranges based on the PRNT(50), with coefficients of variation (CVs) of 14.21%, 12.47%, and 13.28%, respectively. Intermediate precision indicated acceptable ranges for the high and mid concentrations, with CVs of 15.52% and 16.09%, respectively. However, the low concentration did not meet the acceptance criteria, with a CV of 26.42%. Acceptable ranges were found in the robustness evaluation for both intra-assay and interassay variability. In summary, the validation parameters tested met the acceptance criteria, making the SCLSNA method fit for its intended purpose, which can be used to support the PRNT. IMPORTANCE Neutralization studies play an important role in providing guidance and justification for vaccine administration and helping prevent the spread of diseases. The neutralization data generated in our laboratory have been included in the decision-making process of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) in Canada. During the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) has been the gold standard for determining neutralization of SARS-CoV-2. We validated a SARS-CoV-2 lentivirus surrogate neutralization assay (SCLSNA) as an alternative method to help support the PRNT. The advantages of using the SCLSNA is that it can process more samples, is less tedious to perform, and can be used in laboratories with a lower biosafety level. The use of the SCLSNA can further expand our capabilities to help fulfill the requirements for NACI and other important collaborations.