1. Strategic Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Serology Testing in a Low Prevalence Setting: The COVID-19 Contact (CoCo) Study in Healthcare Professionals
- Author
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Georg M. N. Behrens, Anne Cossmann, Metodi V. Stankov, Bianca Schulte, Hendrik Streeck, Reinhold Förster, Berislav Bosnjak, Stefanie Willenzon, Anna-Lena Boeck, Anh Thu Tran, Thea Thiele, Theresa Graalmann, Moritz Z. Kayser, Anna Zychlinsky Scharff, Christian Dopfer, Alexander Horke, Isabell Pink, Torsten Witte, Martin Wetzke, Diana Ernst, Alexandra Jablonka, and Christine Happle
- Subjects
Coronavirus ,COVID-19 ,Healthcare professionals ,Humoral immunity ,Infection ,Pandemic ,Infectious and parasitic diseases ,RC109-216 - Abstract
Abstract Background Serology testing is explored for epidemiological research and to inform individuals after suspected infection. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, frontline healthcare professionals (HCP) may be at particular risk for infection. No longitudinal data on functional seroconversion in HCP in regions with low COVID-19 prevalence and low pre-test probability exist. Methods In a large German university hospital, we performed weekly questionnaire assessments and anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G (IgG) measurements with various commercial tests, a novel surrogate virus neutralisation test, and a neutralisation assay using live SARS-CoV-2. Results From baseline to week 6, 1080 screening measurements for anti-SARS CoV-2 (S1) IgG from 217 frontline HCP (65% female) were performed. Overall, 75.6% of HCP reported at least one symptom of respiratory infection. Self-perceived infection probability declined over time (from mean 20.1% at baseline to 12.4% in week 6, p
- Published
- 2020
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