Immunoglobulin-G Antibodies against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus-2 among Health-Care Workers: A Serosurveillance Study from India.

BACKGROUND

Seropositivity among health-care workers (HCWs) may help in better understanding of the immune response after COVID-19 infection.

OBJECTIVES

To estimate seropositivity among HCWs and to compare available variables with seropositivity to understand the factors affecting seropositivity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A serosurveillance among HCWs was carried out using population proportion sampling during the second half of October 2020 in the city of Ahmedabad using the Covid-Kavach (immunoglobulin G [IgG] ELISA Antibody testing kit). Simple proportions and appropriate statistical tests were used as needed.

RESULTS

As on October' 2020, HCWs in Ahmedabad demonstrated a seropositivity of 20.84% (95% confidence interval [CI] 19.00-22.81%). Seropositivity among HCWs was lower than that of the general population (24.20%) which was estimated as part of the same study. Female HCWs had higher seropositivity 22.14% (95% CI 19.74-24.74%) as compared to 18.82% (95% CI 16.06-21.93%) among male HCWs and the difference was statistically not significant ( = 1.66, = 0.097). Age groups with increasing age show increasing trend in the seropositivity among HCWs.

CONCLUSION

As on October 2020, with 20.84% seropositivity among HCWs in Ahmedabad, one in every five HCW already demonstrate IgG antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome- coronavirus-2. Further scientific studies on seropositivity and the factors affecting the seropositivity may be carried out to uncover more details of immune reaction after COVID-19 infection.