Evaluation of a rapid semiquantitative lateral flow assay for the prediction of serum neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants

•Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 have been shown to strongly correlate with protection against infection.•We assessed the performance of a semiquantitative lateral flow assay (LFA), for the prediction of serum neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants.•The LFA inhibition rate was found to be correlated with IgG levels, and with NAb levels.•In the vaccine cohort, an inhibition rate of 77.2%, 90.8% and 99.6% predicted accurately neutralization against Alpha, Delta and Omicron variants respectively.