Prevalence and incidence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers in Belgian hospitals before vaccination: a prospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To describe prevalence and incidence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among Belgian hospital healthcare workers (HCW) in April-December 2020.

Design

Prospective cohort study. Follow-up was originally planned until September and later extended.

Setting

Multicentre study, 17 hospitals.

Participants

50 HCW were randomly selected per hospital. HCW employed beyond the end of the study and whose profession involved contact with patients were eligible. 850 HCW entered the study in April-May 2020, 673 HCW (79%) attended the September visit and 308 (36%) the December visit.

Outcome measures

A semiquantitative ELISA was used to detect IgG against SARS-CoV-2 in serum (Euroimmun) at 10 time points. In seropositive samples, neutralising antibodies were measur

SUBMITTER: Mortgat L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8245288 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature