Department of Oral Pathology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
Department of Oral Pathology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
Int Dent J. 2022 Jun;72(3):353-359. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2022.02.003. Epub 2022 Feb 10.
Since the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in 2019, special safety protocols have been introduced in dentistry. Dental professionals were determined to be mostly at risk for contracting the virus due to aerosol-generating procedures used. This preliminary study starts the cycle of the laboratory protocols describing the quality and efficacy of laboratory tests in the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) detection in the serum of asymptomatic dental personnel during the last quarter of 2020.
IgG levels were measured with the use of a semi-quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in vitro diagnostic kit in the serum of a study group that consisted of 127 employees of the dental clinic divided into 3 subgroups: SUB1: dentists (n = 67); SUB2: dental assistants, dental hygienists, nurses, laboratory workers (n = 40); SUB3: administrative workers (n = 20). Pearson analysis of results from the questionnaires attached to the study protocol were provided to assure that the results compare to the participants' impressions about their general health.
Positive ELISA IgG results were found in 6% (n = 4) of the SUB1 group, 7.50% (n =3) of the SUB2 group, and 5% of the SUB3 group. The percentage of participants without work interruption from the beginning of the pandemic was 54% of dentists and 60% of chairside assistants.
Serum IgG prevalence with the use of a semi-quantitative test was low, and further research on the biobanked samples should follow to determine the levels of IgG with quantitative methods and/or to evaluate the presence of neutralising antibodies in dental personnel. Because of the low representation of seropositivity studies in this group, it will be crucial to confirm the risk of COVID-19 transmission in dental offices.
自 2019 年 SARS-CoV-2 爆发以来，牙科领域引入了特殊的安全规程。由于使用了产生气溶胶的程序，牙科专业人员被确定为感染病毒的高风险人群。这项初步研究开启了实验室方案的循环，描述了在 2020 年最后一个季度无症状牙科人员血清中 SARS-CoV-2 免疫球蛋白 G（IgG）检测的实验室测试的质量和功效。
使用半定量酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）体外诊断试剂盒测量研究组 127 名牙科诊所员工血清中的 IgG 水平，研究组分为 3 个亚组：SUB1：牙医（n=67）；SUB2：牙科助理、牙科保健师、护士、实验室工作人员（n=40）；SUB3：行政人员（n=20）。对研究方案中附加问卷的结果进行 Pearson 分析，以确保结果与参与者对自身整体健康的印象相匹配。
SUB1 组有 6%（n=4）、SUB2 组有 7.50%（n=3）和 SUB3 组有 5%的 ELISA IgG 检测结果呈阳性。从大流行开始就没有中断工作的参与者比例为牙医的 54%和椅旁助理的 60%。
使用半定量检测方法，血清 IgG 阳性率较低，应进一步研究生物库样本，以确定定量方法的 IgG 水平和/或评估牙科人员中中和抗体的存在。由于该组中血清阳性研究的代表性较低，因此确定牙科诊所有关 COVID-19 传播的风险至关重要。
