Continuous monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in children using residual blood samples from routine clinical chemistry.
Clin Chem Lab Med
; 60(6): 941-951, 2022 05 25.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1714815
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
The assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children is still challenging, but essential for appropriate political decisions. The aim of this study was to investigate whether residual blood samples can be used for SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence monitoring in pediatrics.METHODS:
In this repeated cross-sectional cohort study, anonymous residual blood samples from pediatric patients aged 0-17 years were collected in three time-periods (Oct.-Nov. 2020, April 2021, and June-July 2021) and analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (anti-S) and nucleocapsid (anti-N) antibodies using commercial antibody assays. 28 reactive samples were used to compare antibody levels with a pseudotyped neutralization assay. The results were further compared to the official national COVID-19 surveillance data to calculate the number of unreported cases.RESULTS:
In total, n=2,626 individual blood samples were analyzed. In this unvaccinated pediatric cohort anti-S and anti-N antibody seroprevalence increased over the three time periods (anti-S 1.38-9.16%, and 14.59%; anti-N 1.26%, to 6.19%, and 8.56%). Compared to the national surveillance data this leads to a 3.93-5.66-fold increase in the number of unreported cases. However, a correlation between the cumulative incidence of the individual provinces and our assigned data was found (r=0.74, p=0.0151). In addition, reactive samples with anti-S and anti-N and samples with only anti-S showed neutralization capabilities (11/14 and 8/14, respectively). Anti-S levels were not significantly different between age groups and sexes (all p>0.05).CONCLUSIONS:
The present study suggests that residual blood samples from routine laboratory chemistry could be included in the estimation of the total SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in children.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Child
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Clin Chem Lab Med
Journal subject:
Chemistry, Clinical
/
Laboratory Techniques and procedures
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Cclm-2022-0037
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