SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey in health care workers of the Veneto Region

• Published in: Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine Vol. 58; no. 12; pp. 2107 - 2111
• Main Authors: Plebani, Mario, Padoan, Andrea, Fedeli, Ugo, Schievano, Elena, Vecchiato, Elena, Lippi, Giuseppe, Lo Cascio, Giuliana, Porru, Stefano, Palù, Giorgio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany De Gruyter 26.08.2020; Walter De Gruyter & Company
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies; Antigens; Asymptomatic; Betacoronavirus - immunology; Biomedical engineering; Chemiluminescence; Coronaviridae; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Female; Health care; health care workers; Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data; Health services; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Infections; Italy; Luminescent Measurements; Male; Medical personnel; Middle Aged; Polymerase chain reaction; Respiratory diseases; Reverse transcription; Risk groups; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 antibody; Seroconversion; Seroepidemiologic Studies; seroprevalence; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Subpopulations; Viral diseases; Italy; COVID-19; seroprevalence; health care workers; SARS-CoV-2 antibody
• DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2020-1236
• ISSN: 1434-6621

Objectives The ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses formidable challenges to all health care systems. Serological assays may be used for improving disease management when appropriately applied, for investigating the antibody responses mounted against SARS-CoV-2 infection and for assessing its real prevalence. Although testing the whole population is impractical, well-designed serosurveys in selected subpopulations in specific risk groups may provide valuable information. We evaluated the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care workers (HCW) who underwent molecular testing with reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) in the main hospitals of the Veneto Region of Italy by measuring specific antibodies (Abs). Methods Both immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG antibodies against SARS-Cov-2 S-antigen and N-protein were measured using a validated chemiluminescent analytical system (CLIA) called Maglumi™ 2000 Plus (New Industries Biomedical Engineering Co., Ltd [Snibe], Shenzhen, China). Results A total of 8,285 HCW were tested. SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies (IgM, IgG or both) were detectable in 378 cases (4.6%, 95% CI 4.1-5.0%). Seroconversion was observed in 4.4% of women vs. 5.0% of men, but this difference was not significant. Although detectable antibodies were found in all HCW who developed severe COVID-19 infection (100%), lower seropositivity was found in mild disease (83%) and the lowest prevalence (58%) was observed in asymptomatic subjects. Conclusions Seroprevalence surveys are of utmost importance for understanding the rate of population that has already developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. The present study defined precisely the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in a cohort of HCW in the Veneto Region, with its prevalence (4.6%) reflecting a relatively low circulation. Symptomatic individuals or those hospitalized for medical care were 100% antibody positive, whilst Abs were only detectable in 58% of asymptomatic carriers.