ABSTRACT
Objective: Since the resumption of face-to-face education in October 2020, which was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, coincides with the period when SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in young adults are on the rise. This study focuses on the 2019 corona virus outbreak in young adults, the largest link in the chain of transmission, which can be defined as silent contagious agents. It is aimed to provide epidemiological data by detecting virus disease (COVID-19) seropositivity with two different serological methods, and to evaluate the symptom-test performance relationship of asymptomatic/mild symptom/symptomatic cases. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with students studying at Cappadocia University health programs between December 2020 and February 2021 and who will attend practice courses face-to-face. Participants were surveyed about their COVID-19 symptoms and disease histories based on SARS-CoV-2 exposure. For SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection, blood samples were taken from the participants and investigated with a single lateral flow immunoAssay (LFIA, Novatech, Turkey) cassette test. The samples with positive test result were then SARS-CoV-2 Anti-N IgM+IgG;SARS-CoV-2 Anti-S IgM+IgG;SARS-CoV-2 Anti-RBD IgG;It was re-evaluated using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) method with the anti-SARS-CoV-2 kit (Roche, Germany). Results: Of the 239 samples participating in the study, 50 (20.9%) samples that were positive for SARS-CoV2 IgM/ IgG according to the LFIA method were then studied again with the ECLIA method. According to the ECLIA result, 72% (36/50) of individuals against both nucleocapsid (N) and spike (S) antigens, and 70% (35) against RBD antigen were seropositive. Based on the ECLIA test results, 239 samples were studied and 50 samples were found to be IgM/IgG positive, with a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 93%. Contingence history was reported in 46% (n=23) of patients who were seropositive by both methods, while 30% (n=15) showed a COVID-19 clinic. Fifty four percent (n=27) of the participants reported that they did not have a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, but antibody response was observed in all of them. Only 28% (n=14) of seropositive patients reported positive PCR results, and 4% of them stated that they had a chronic disease. It will be important to continue to observe the serological status of young people, particularly in the context of new COVID-19 variants and in the low interest in mass vaccination campaigns targeting young people. Conclusion: It is thought that the performance of ECLIA with rapid casette test does not have a good degree of agreement and confirmation with different immunoassay tests would be more useful for epidemiological surveillance. Especially the new COVID-19 in the context of the variants and targeting youth due to the lack of interest in vaccination champaigns continue to monitor the serological status of young people it will be important.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Sri Lanka adopted various control measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 including early detection by widespread testing, contact tracing and isolation. However, some people were not willing to accept testing due to several reasons. This is the first study from Sri Lanka conducted to determine people's level of willingness to undergo a COVID-19 swab test. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 427 non-COVID-19 patients who visited the outpatient department at a Teaching hospital in northern Sri Lanka. Data collection was done over a one month period in July 2021. The data collected was entered and analysed using SPSS version 28. Results: The mean age of the participants was 43.4, and a majority of the participants were female (62.8%). A significant proportion of the participants (37.9% CI: 34.3-43.6) were not willing to accept the test to screen for COVID-19. Among the 162 patients who were not willing to accept the test, 56.2% reported fear regarding testing, and 37.6% reported fear of getting a positive result. A significant association was observed between people's willingness to accept the test and their gender (P-0.022) and knowledge of the test (P-0.001). Conclusion: As a considerable proportion of participants were not willing to accept COVID-19 screen testing, and people's knowledge regarding testing significantly influenced their acceptance of such testing, this study concludes that the public can be educated further about the COVID-19 infection, identifying the symptoms of disease by themselves, available testing methods, the importance of testing early and how they will be treated if they get positive test results.
ABSTRACT
The HIV self-testing (HIVST) program was introduced to reach people living with HIV who are still undiagnosed and also to ensure that HIV-negative individuals get access to effective HIV prevention services. HIV self-testing offers a discreet and convenient way to test, with the potential to reach individuals in need of HIV testing services but who may not otherwise test. The purpose of this study was to uncover access to HIVST during the first SARS-COV-2 lockdown period in 2020. This was a cross-sectional design approach that applied the RE-AIM framework principle. The study used historical data from the four regions in Eswatini (Shiselweni, Manzini, Lubombo, and Hhohho). These regions were selected based on ensuring adequate coverage and representativeness. Data were analysed using bivariate logistic regression analysis in Stata15 to assess the association between categorical variables, and the level of significance was set at a P-value less than 0.05. The results showed a total of 6158 clients were reached with HIVST kits. A total of 3031 (50%) were females, and 3127(51%) were males, and more outcomes were based on risk profiles and age. It is concluded that HIVST is one key strategy in reaching males who ordinarily lag when it comes to HIV testing services in Eswatini. These results show that access to HIV self-testing during the lockdown period in Eswatini illustrated positive advances as it reached the most at-risk population groups and has a potential for extended sustained use to benefit specific high-HIV-risk population groups.
ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-Z treated at 56 degrees C for 30 min can be inactivated effectively. However, the effect of heat treatment on subsequent detection of the RNA of SARS-CoV-2 by real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase Chain reaction (RT-qPCR) has not been reported. We filled this knowledge gap in present study. We used five SARS'CoV-Z-positive throat swabs. Each throat swab was divided into four parts and assigned to a group: control;56 degrees C for 30 min;56 degrees C for 45 min;56 degrees C for 60 min. After heat treatment, SARS-CoV-Z RNA was extracted and detected by RT-qPCR (absolute quantitation using a standard curve). We found that SARS- CoV-Z RNA was reduced by ~40% after treatment at 56 degrees C for 30 ' 60 min. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05 for all) in the test results between the treatment groups (56 degrees C for 30 min;56 degrees C for 45 min;56 degrees C for 60 min). Our study suggested that SARS-CoV-Z specimens could be inactivated at 56 degrees C for 30 min, before RNA extraction and RT-qPCR detection, which could protect the safety of personnel and the environment during testing. Heat inactivation had a limited effect upon RT-qPCR detection but it should be used with caution if the specimen result is near the critical value.