Reduced SARS-CoV-2 Infection Rates in Lab Workers Conducting Nucleic Acid Testing: Controlling for the Healthy Worker Effect.

ABSTRACT:

Background

During the COVID-19 outbreak in December 2022 in China, some laboratory workers in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing (NAT) laboratories remained uninfected.

Objectives

To evaluate if the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was reduced in laboratory workers who performed SARS-CoV-2 NAT, and whether this reduction resulted from the healthy worker effect.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 423 laboratory workers from 14 SARS-CoV-2 NAT laboratories in Xiamen, China. The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among laboratory workers was analysed based on whether and how long they were engaged in NAT. The healthy worker effect among the laboratory workers engaged in NAT was examined.

Results

The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was lower in workers

SUBMITTER: Lin LQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11780050 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature