Determination of Sero-Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody among immunized individuals with Covid-19 vaccine in a tertiary center, Nepal
Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (covid-19) is a highly contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). People who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 or are vaccinated with covid-19 vaccines are supposed to develop immunoglobulins and these immune responses in human body will determine the efficacy of the vaccines as well as help to discover new therapeutic options. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted between April to June, 2021, assessing serum antibody titer from participants who had taken the first dose of covishieldTM vaccine (naïve as well as prior covid-19 infected individuals). Antibody testing was carried out with Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S electrochemiluminescence immunoassay on Roche Cobas e 601 module. Twenty-eight of these participants had follow up repeat antibody test after second dose of vaccine. Results: A total of 122 participants with the first dose of CovishieldTM vaccine were all tested seropositive, antibody titer ranging from minimum of 2.95 U/mL to maximum 2500 U/mL. Average antibody titer was 308.9 U/mL for naive cohort and 1604 U/mL for prior covid-19 infection. In twenty-eight participants who had antibody titer measured after 1 month of second dose, average titer was 1459.7 U/mL for naïve cohort and 1803.4 U/mL for prior covid-19 infected individuals, which was statistically significant compared to antibody response after the first dose. Conclusions: Antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 following immunization was 100%, with significant development after second dose in naïve population while robust immune response was present after first dose in prior SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals.