tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Wien Klin Wochenschr
. 2021 Oct 26.
doi: 10.1007/s00508-021-01963-3. Online ahead of print.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthy blood donors from the state of Tyrol, Austria, in summer 2020
Anita Siller[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Gregor A Wachter[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sabrina Neururer[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Bernhard Pfeifer[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Manfred Astl[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Wegene Borena[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Janine Kimpel[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Sebastian Elmer[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Franziska Spöck[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anja Vales[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Annelies Mühlbacher[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Manfred Gaber[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Peter Willeit[SUP] 6 7 [/SUP], Harald Schennach[SUP] 8 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: Seroepidemiological studies provide important insight into the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV‑2) in our society. We aimed to determine seropositivity of SARS-CoV‑2 antibodies and its cross-sectional correlates in a large cohort of blood donors.
Methods: In this observational cohort study, we tested healthy blood donors residing in Tyrol, Austria, for SARS-CoV‑2 antibodies using the Abbott SARS-CoV‑2 IgG chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. We estimated 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of seroprevalences using bootstrapping and tested for differences by participant characteristics using logistic regression.
Findings: Between 8 June and 4 September 2020, we screened 5345 healthy individuals at local blood donor sessions (mean age 42.7 years, SD 13.5 years, 46.7% female). Overall seroprevalence was 3.1% (95% CI 2.7-3.6%, 165 cases), which is 5.1-fold higher (95% CI 4.5-6.0%) than the case number identified by the health authorities in the state-wide testing program (0.6%; 4536 out of 757,634). Seroprevalence was higher in the district Landeck (16.6%, P < 0.001) and in individuals aged < 25 years (4.7%, P = 0.043), but did not differ by gender, blood types, or medication intake. The odds ratio for seropositivity was 2.51 for participants who had travelled to Ischgl (1.49-4.21, P = 0.001), 1.39 who had travelled to other federal states (1.00-1.93, P = 0.052), and 2.41 who had travelled abroad (1.61-3.63, P < 0.001). Compared to participants who had a suspected/confirmed SARS-CoV‑2 infection but were seronegative, seropositive participants more frequently reported loss of smell (odds ratio = 2.49, 1.32-4.68, P = 0.005) and taste (odds ratio = 2.76, 1.54-4.92, P = 0.001).
Conclusion: In summer 2020, SARS-CoV‑2 seroprevalence in Tyrolean blood donors was 3.1%. Our study revealed regional variation and associations with young age, travel history and specific symptoms.
Keywords: Covid-19; Cross-sectional studies; Epidemiology; Seropositivity; Seroprevalence.
. 2021 Oct 26.
doi: 10.1007/s00508-021-01963-3. Online ahead of print.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthy blood donors from the state of Tyrol, Austria, in summer 2020
Anita Siller[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Gregor A Wachter[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sabrina Neururer[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Bernhard Pfeifer[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Manfred Astl[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Wegene Borena[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Janine Kimpel[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Sebastian Elmer[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Franziska Spöck[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anja Vales[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Annelies Mühlbacher[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Manfred Gaber[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Peter Willeit[SUP] 6 7 [/SUP], Harald Schennach[SUP] 8 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34698961
- DOI: 10.1007/s00508-021-01963-3
Abstract
Background: Seroepidemiological studies provide important insight into the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV‑2) in our society. We aimed to determine seropositivity of SARS-CoV‑2 antibodies and its cross-sectional correlates in a large cohort of blood donors.
Methods: In this observational cohort study, we tested healthy blood donors residing in Tyrol, Austria, for SARS-CoV‑2 antibodies using the Abbott SARS-CoV‑2 IgG chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. We estimated 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of seroprevalences using bootstrapping and tested for differences by participant characteristics using logistic regression.
Findings: Between 8 June and 4 September 2020, we screened 5345 healthy individuals at local blood donor sessions (mean age 42.7 years, SD 13.5 years, 46.7% female). Overall seroprevalence was 3.1% (95% CI 2.7-3.6%, 165 cases), which is 5.1-fold higher (95% CI 4.5-6.0%) than the case number identified by the health authorities in the state-wide testing program (0.6%; 4536 out of 757,634). Seroprevalence was higher in the district Landeck (16.6%, P < 0.001) and in individuals aged < 25 years (4.7%, P = 0.043), but did not differ by gender, blood types, or medication intake. The odds ratio for seropositivity was 2.51 for participants who had travelled to Ischgl (1.49-4.21, P = 0.001), 1.39 who had travelled to other federal states (1.00-1.93, P = 0.052), and 2.41 who had travelled abroad (1.61-3.63, P < 0.001). Compared to participants who had a suspected/confirmed SARS-CoV‑2 infection but were seronegative, seropositive participants more frequently reported loss of smell (odds ratio = 2.49, 1.32-4.68, P = 0.005) and taste (odds ratio = 2.76, 1.54-4.92, P = 0.001).
Conclusion: In summer 2020, SARS-CoV‑2 seroprevalence in Tyrolean blood donors was 3.1%. Our study revealed regional variation and associations with young age, travel history and specific symptoms.
Keywords: Covid-19; Cross-sectional studies; Epidemiology; Seropositivity; Seroprevalence.