Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Asymptomatic Frontline COVID-19 HCWs

Overview

This study is about the current knowledge on the immunological changes observed in various healthcare workers in this part of the world, who remained asymptomatic while working in high exposure areas of COVID-19 infection.

Full Title of Study: “Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV 2 Among Asymptomatic Frontline Healthcare Workers During COVID 19: A Cross Sectional Study”

Study Type

• Study Type: Observational
• Study Design
  • Time Perspective: Retrospective
• Study Primary Completion Date: February 8, 2021

Detailed Description

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped, single positive-strand RNA viruses belonging to the large subfamily Coronavirinae, which can infect mammals and several other animals.The continued spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has prompted widespread concern around the world, and the World Health Organization (WHO), on 11 March 2020, declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Studies on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) showed that virus-specific antibodies were detectable in 80-100% of patients at 2 weeks after symptom onset. Currently, the antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 remain poorly understood and the clinical utility of serological testing is unclear. Little is known about the kinetics, tissue distribution, cross-reactivity and neutralization antibody response in COVID-19 patients. Asymptomatic cases are common but to date there are scarce epidemiological surveys that provide a clear percentage of asymptomatic cases. A large number of healthcare workers have been infected with the virus worldwide, presenting with severe symptoms to no symptoms at all, in which case being diagnosed on contact tracing only. The seropositivity rate in previously undiagnosed healthcare workers has been reported in different regions of the world. In a combined study of three hospitals of Turkey, the seropositivity rate of the previously undiagnosed HCWs was 2.7%. A study done in China revealed 17.5 % seropositivity rate. This study will aim to comprehensively review the current knowledge on the immunological changes observed in various healthcare workers in this part of the world, who remained asymptomatic while working in high exposure areas of COVID-19 infection.

Interventions

• Diagnostic Test: IgG SARS CoV 2 antibodies
  • The asymptomatic healthcare workers of high exposure COVID19 areas will be tested for IgG SARS CoV 2 antibodies

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

• Asymptomatic frontline HCWs for COVID 19
  • All healthcare workers who worked in high exposure areas of hospital dealing with COVID 19.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

• SARS CoV 2 IgG antibodies
  • Time Frame: 3 months
  • The presence or absence of SARS CoV 2 antibodies in serum of HCWs

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

• All HCWs who had been working in high exposure areas of COVID 19 Exclusion Criteria:

• Any HCW of high exposure areas of COVID 19 who suffered from COVID 19 themselves diagnosed on PCR or clinically

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 20 Years

Maximum Age: 60 Years

Investigator Details

• Lead Sponsor
  • Lahore General Hospital
• Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
  • Principal Investigator: Amina Asif, Assistant Professor – Lahore General Hospital
• Overall Official(s)
  • Amina Asif, MPhilMicro, Principal Investigator, LahoreGeneralHospital.Lahore