scholarly journals Performance of a point of care test for detecting IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and seroprevalence in blood donors and health care workers in Panama

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alcibiades Villarreal ◽  
Giselle Rangel ◽  
Xu Zhang ◽  
Digna Wong ◽  
Carolina De La Guardia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Healthy Volunteer ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Lateral Flow Assay ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Test Sensitivity ◽  
Care Workers

Novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiologic agent of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has reached 28 million cases worldwide in eight months. The serological detection of antibodies against the virus will play a pivotal role in complementing molecular tests to improve diagnostic accuracy, contact tracing, vaccine efficacy testing and seroprevalence surveillance. Here, we aimed first to evaluate a lateral flow assay ability to identify specific IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and second, to report the seroprevalence of these antibodies among health care workers and healthy volunteer blood donors in Panama. We recruited study participants between April 30th and July 7th, 2020. For the test validation and performance evaluation, we analyzed serum samples from participants with clinical symptoms and confirmed positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2, and a set of pre-pandemic serum samples. We used two by two table analysis to determine the test sensitivity and specificity as well as the kappa agreement value with a 95% confidence interval. Then, we used the lateral flow assay to determine seroprevalence among serum samples from COVID-19 patients, potentially exposed health care workers, and healthy volunteer donors. Our results show this assay reached a positive percent agreement of 97.2% (95% CI 84.2-100.0%) for detecting both IgM and IgG. The assay showed a kappa of 0.898 (95%CI 0.811- 0.985) and 0.918 (95% CI 0.839-0.997) for IgM and IgG, respectively. The evaluation of serum samples from hospitalized COVID-19 patients indicates a correlation between test sensitivity and the number of days since symptom onset; the highest positive percent agreement (87% (95% CI 67.0-96.3%)) was observed at 15 days post-symptom onset. We found an overall antibody seroprevalence of 11.6% (95% CI 8.5-15.8%) among both health care workers and healthy blood donors. Our findings suggest this lateral flow assay could contribute significantly to implementing seroprevalence testing in locations with active community transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals Performance of a Point of Care Test for Detecting IgM and IgG Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 and Seroprevalence in Blood Donors and Health Care Workers in Panama

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alcibiades Villarreal ◽  
Giselle Rangel ◽  
Xu Zhang ◽  
Digna Wong ◽  
Gabrielle Britton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Healthy Volunteer ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Lateral Flow Assay ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Care Workers

Novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiologic agent of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has reached 28 million cases worldwide in 1 year. The serological detection of antibodies against the virus will play a pivotal role in complementing molecular tests to improve diagnostic accuracy, contact tracing, vaccine efficacy testing, and seroprevalence surveillance. Here, we aimed first to evaluate a lateral flow assay's ability to identify specific IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and second, to report the seroprevalence estimates of these antibodies among health care workers and healthy volunteer blood donors in Panama. We recruited study participants between April 30th and July 7th, 2020. For the test validation and performance evaluation, we analyzed serum samples from participants with clinical symptoms and confirmed positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2, and a set of pre-pandemic serum samples. We used two by two table analysis to determine the test positive and negative percentage agreement as well as the Kappa agreement value with a 95% confidence interval. Then, we used the lateral flow assay to determine seroprevalence among serum samples from COVID-19 patients, potentially exposed health care workers, and healthy volunteer donors. Our results show this assay reached a positive percent agreement of 97.2% (95% CI 84.2–100.0%) for detecting both IgM and IgG. The assay showed a Kappa of 0.898 (95%CI 0.811–0.985) and 0.918 (95% CI 0.839–0.997) for IgM and IgG, respectively. The evaluation of serum samples from hospitalized COVID-19 patients indicates a correlation between test sensitivity and the number of days since symptom onset; the highest positive percent agreement [87% (95% CI 67.0–96.3%)] was observed at ≥15 days post-symptom onset (PSO). We found an overall antibody seroprevalence of 11.6% (95% CI 8.5–15.8%) among both health care workers and healthy blood donors. Our findings suggest this lateral flow assay could contribute significantly to implementing seroprevalence testing in locations with active community transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

INVESTIGATION OF SEROPREVALENCE OF IgG ANTIBODIES AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN VIRAL RESEARCH AND DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY, AMRITSAR

2021 ◽  
pp. 63-65
Author(s):  
Vaibhav Chawla ◽  
Amandeep Kaur ◽  
Arashdeep Kaur ◽  
Kanwardeep Singh ◽  
Shailpreet Kaur Sidhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Data Entry ◽  
Risk Exposure ◽  
Government Medical College ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Diagnostic Laboratory ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Care Workers

Health care workers constitute the group of people who take care of COVID-19 patients. Thus, they are highly vulnerable to contract SARS-CoV-2 infection and pose a great threat to co-workers and general public. Seroprevalence studies are an important tool to monitor the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and assess the level of exposure among HCWs. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among Health Care Workers. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted at Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Government Medical College, st th Amritsar for a period from 1 December 2020 to 15 January 2021. During this period, 90 blood samples were collected from the healthcare workers from Department of Microbiology and Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Government Medical College, Amritsar. Serum samples were separated and used for detection of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies by ELISA technique. Results: Out of the 90 samples, 31 (34.44%) were found to be positive. Higher number of males 24 (26.67%) and lesser number of females 7 (7.78%) were observed with seropositivity. Out of the total participants in the study, 45.16% of laboratory supporting personnel, 19.35% of junior residents followed by housekeeping staff (12.90%), data entry operators (9.67%), consultants (6.45%) and Senior Residents/Research Scientists (6.45%) were observed to be IgG positive. It was also seen that in high risk exposure category 27.78% were seropositive and in low risk exposure group only 6.67% were seropositive and the difference between two groups was statistically signicant (p<0.000). Conclusion: High seropositivity was observed among health care workers due to their nature of work as frontline workers

scholarly journals Nationwide Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibodies among Four Groups of Primary Health-Care Workers and Their Household Contacts 6 Months after the Initiation of the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign in France: SeroPRIM Study Protocol

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 911
Author(s):  
Marie Pouquet ◽  
Dorine Decarreaux ◽  
Pol Prévot-Monsacré ◽  
Corentin Hervé ◽  
Andréas Werner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Vaccination Campaign ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Household Contacts ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Natural Protection

Background: The protocol study will focus on the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 achieved by vaccination and/or natural protection as well as the history, symptoms, and risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 in four primary health-care workers (PHCWs) and their household contacts in metropolitan France. Methods: Here, we propose a protocol for a nationwide survey to determine the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 achieved by vaccination and/or natural protection in four PHCW populations (general practitioners, pediatricians, pharmacists and assistants, and dentists and assistants) and their household contacts. Participants will be included from June to July 2021 (Phase 1) among PHCW populations located throughout metropolitan France. They will be asked to provide a range of demographic and behavioral information since the first SARS-CoV-2 wave and a self-sampled dried blood spot. Phase 1 will involve also a questionnaire and serological study of PHCWs’ household contacts. Seroprevalence will be estimated using two ELISAs designed to detect specific IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in humoral fluid, and these results will be confirmed using a virus neutralization test. This study will be repeated from November to December 2021 (Phase 2) to evaluate the evolution of immune status achieved by vaccination and/or natural protection of PHCWs and to describe the history of exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals High SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in health care workers but relatively low numbers of deaths in urban Malawi

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 199
Author(s):  
Marah G. Chibwana ◽  
Khuzwayo C. Jere ◽  
Raphael Kamng'ona ◽  
Jonathan Mandolo ◽  
Vincent Katunga-Phiri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Care Workers

Background: In low-income countries, like Malawi, important public health measures including social distancing or a lockdown have been challenging to implement owing to socioeconomic constraints, leading to predictions that the COVID-19 pandemic would progress rapidly. However, due to limited capacity to test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, there are no reliable estimates of the true burden of infection and death.  We, therefore, conducted a SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey amongst health care workers (HCWs) in Blantyre city to estimate the cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in urban Malawi. Methods: We recruited 500 otherwise asymptomatic HCWs from Blantyre City (Malawi) from 22nd May 2020 to 19th June 2020 and serum samples were collected from all participants. A commercial ELISA was used to measure SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in serum. Results: A total of 84 participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The HCWs with positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody results came from different parts of the city. The adjusted seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 12.3% [CI 8.2 - 16.5]. Using age-stratified infection fatality estimates reported from elsewhere, we found that at the observed adjusted seroprevalence, the number of predicted deaths was eight times the number of reported deaths. Conclusions: The high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among HCWs and the discrepancy in the predicted versus reported deaths suggests that there was early exposure but slow progression of COVID-19 epidemic in urban Malawi. This highlights the urgent need for development of locally parameterised mathematical models to more accurately predict the trajectory of the epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa for better evidence-based policy decisions and public health response planning.

scholarly journals A prospective study to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B infection in health care workers, voluntary blood donors, and patients with liver disorders at a tertiary care centre

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 1708
Author(s):  
Purshottam K. Kaundal ◽  
Anju Partap Kaundal
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Risk Behaviour ◽  
Liver Disorder ◽  
Hepatitis B Infection ◽  
Liver Disorders ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
High Risk Behaviour

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is highly infectious when compared with human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV), even minute quantity of infected blood as little as 0.0001 ml can transmit infection. A number of the routine therapeutic, diagnostic, prophylactic invasive procedures can spread HBV infection. The study was planned to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in health care workers, voluntary blood donors, and patients with liver disorders.Methods: The study was a cross sectional study carried out among 90 subjects during a period of one year in Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla. These 90 subjects consisted of 30 patients with liver disorder, 30 health care workers and 30 voluntary blood donors. The blood samples were collected and sent for detection of HBsAg by ELISA.Results: Majority of the subjects 47 (52.2%) belonged to the age group of 21-30 years. Among voluntary blood donors, 90% were males. 64.4% of the subjects belonged to urban areas. 50% of the rural subjects were having liver disorders. Liver disorder was more common (71.5%) among heterosexual high risk behaviour subjects compared to only 25.7% with no high risk behaviour. Seropositivity was found highest among patients with liver disorder (66.7%) followed by health care workers (20%). Overall, the seropositivity was 28.9%.Conclusions: Patients with liver disorders especially chronic hepatitis were mostly seropositive. Among health care workers, being a doctor was a significant risk factor for acquiring hepatitis B infection. Thus, it is advised that all health care workers should be immunized for hepatitis B. 

scholarly journals High SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Health Care Workers but relatively low numbers of deaths in urban Malawi

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marah Grace Chibwana ◽  
Khuzwayo Chidiwa Jere ◽  
Raphael kamng'ona ◽  
Jonathan Mandolo ◽  
Vincent Katunga-Phiri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Care Workers

Background: In low-income countries, like Malawi, important public health measures including social distancing or a lockdown have been challenging to implement owing to socioeconomic constraints, leading to predictions that the COVID-19 pandemic would progress rapidly. However, due to limited capacity to test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, there are no reliable estimates of the true burden of infection and death. We, therefore, conducted a SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey amongst health care workers (HCWs) in Blantyre city to estimate the cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in urban Malawi. Methods: We recruited 500 otherwise asymptomatic HCWs from Blantyre City (Malawi) from 22nd May 2020 to 19th June 2020 and serum samples were collected from all participants. A commercial ELISA was used to measure SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in serum. Results: A total of 84 participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The HCWs with positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody results came from different parts of the city. The adjusted seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 12.3% [CI 8.2 - 16.5]. Using age-stratified infection fatality estimates reported from elsewhere, we found that at the observed adjusted seroprevalence, the number of predicted deaths was eight times the number of reported deaths. Conclusions: The high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among HCWs and the discrepancy in the predicted versus reported deaths suggests that there was early exposure but slow progression of COVID-19 epidemic in urban Malawi. This highlights the urgent need for development of locally parameterised mathematical models to more accurately predict the trajectory of the epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa for better evidence-based policy decisions and public health response planning.

scholarly journals Covid-19 serology in nephrology health care workers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Reiter ◽  
Sahra Pajenda ◽  
Ludwig Wagner ◽  
Martina Gaggl ◽  
Johanna Atamaniuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Test System ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals ◽  
Positive Controls

Background: Chronic kidney disease patients show a high mortality in case of a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, to be informed on Nephrology personnel's sero-status might be crucial for patient protection. However, limited information exists about the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in asymptomatic individuals. Methods: We examined the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies among health care workers of a tertiary care kidney center during the peak phase of the Covid-19 crisis in Austria using an orthogonal test strategy and a total of 12 commercial nucleocapsid protein or spike glycoprotein based assays as well as Western blotting and a neutralization assay. Results: At baseline 60 of 235 study participants (25.5%, 95% CI: 20.4-31.5) were judged to be borderline positive or positive for IgM or IgG using a high sensitivity/low specificity threshold in one test system. Follow-up analysis after about two weeks revealed IgG positivity in 12 (5.1%, 95% CI: 2.9-8.8) and IgM positivity in six (2.6%, 95% CI: 1.1-5.6) in at least one assay. 2.1% (95% CI: 0.8-5.0) of health care workers showed IgG nucleocapsid antibodies in at least two assays. By contrast, positive controls with proven Covid-19 showed antibody positivity among almost all test systems. Moreover, serum samples obtained from health care workers did not show SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing capacity, in contrast to positive controls. Conclusions: Using a broad spectrum of antibody tests the present study revealed inconsistent results for SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among asymptomatic individuals, while this was not the case among Covid-19 patients.

scholarly journals Prevalence of IgM and IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in health care workers at a tertiary care New York hospital during the Spring COVID-19 surge

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lillian R. Talbot ◽  
Jamie L. Romeiser ◽  
Eric D. Spitzer ◽  
Tong J. Gan ◽  
Sunitha M. Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
New York ◽  
General Population ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
New York State ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Background Health care workers (HCW) such as anesthesiologists, surgeons, and intensivists face high rates of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 through direct contact with COVID-19 patients. While there are initial reports of the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies among the general population, there are few reports comparing the seroprevalence of IgM/IgG COVID-19 antibodies in HCW of different exposure levels as well as different HCW professions. Methods A convenience sample of health care workers provided blood for COVID-19 antibody testing and a review of medical history and work exposure for correlative analyses. Results Overall, 474 HCW were enrolled in April 2020 including 102 front-line physicians (e.g., anesthesiologists, surgeons, intensivists, emergency medicine), 91 other physicians, 135 nurses, 134 other clinical staff, and 12 non-clinical HCW. The prevalence of IgM or IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 was 16.9% (95% CI 13.6–20.6) (80/474). The proportion of positive antibodies in the PCR + group was significantly higher than health care workers without symptoms (84.6% [95% CI 54.6–98.1] vs. 12.3% [95% CI 8.5–17.2], p < 0.001). No significant differences in proportions of COVID-19 antibodies were observed among the different exposure groups (e.g., high vs minimal/no exposure) and among the different HCW professionals. Conclusions Despite exposure to COVID-19 patients, the prevalence of antibodies in our HCW was similar to what has been reported for the general population of New York State (14%) and for another New York HCW cohort (13.7%). Health care workers with higher exposure rates were not more likely to have been infected with COVID-19. Therefore, these data suggest that infection of HCW may result from exposure in the community rather than at work. Trial registration This investigator-initiated study was observational; therefore, no registration was required. Not applicable.

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