Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies among Blood Donors in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, August-November 2020

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 106; no. 3; pp. 891 - 895
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Hanh Hong Ho, Nguyen, Quan Hoang, Truong, Dung Thi Thuy, Dao, Manh Huy, Le, Tu Ngoc, Nguyen, Hieu Trung, Nguyen, Anh Hoang, Nguyen, Thinh Viet, Hoang, Dao Thi Nhu, Hoang, Loan Kim, Tran, Tham Thi, Cao, Thang Minh, Luong, Quang Chan, Phan, Lan Trong, Huynh, Loan Thi Kim, Nguyen, Thuong Vu, Pham, Quang Duy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Institute of Tropical Medicine 26.01.2022; The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Antibodies; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Antibodies, Viral; Blood & organ donations; Blood Donors; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Humans; Middle Aged; SARS-CoV-2; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Short Report; Vietnam - epidemiology; Young Adult; Vietnam
• ISSN: 0002-9637; 1476-1645
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0259

Relatively little is known about the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) IgG antibodies and COVID-19-related behaviors in the general population in Vietnam, where the first case of COVID-19 was detected on January 22, 2020. We surveyed a group of 885 blood donors at community blood donation sessions in Ho Chi Minh City from August 27 to November 7, 2020. Blood was collected to test for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies using the plaque reduction neutralization test. We adjusted the seroprevalence by weight for ages 18 to 59 years old obtained from the 2019 population census. The weighted seroprevalence estimate for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing IgG antibodies was 0.20% (95% CI, 0.05-0.81). Reports of usually or always using a mask in public places were observed at high levels of 28.6% and 67.5%, respectively. The percentages of usually or always washing hands with soap or disinfecting with hand sanitizer after touching items in public places were 48.0% and 37.6%, respectively. Although our findings suggest undocumented exposure to the virus, the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among blood donors was low in this city.