Abstract
Performing a cohort-based SARS-CoV-2 antibody assay is crucial for understanding infection status and future decision-making. The objective of this study was to examine consecutive antibody seroprevalence changes among hospital staff, a high-risk population. A two-time survey was performed in May and October 2020 for 545 hospital staff to investigate the changes in the results of the rapid kit test and chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA). The seroprevalence of each assay was summarized at both the survey periods. The proportion of seropositive individuals in the CLIA for each survey period and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Central Fukushima were then compared. We chose 515 participants for the analysis. The proportion of IgM seroprevalence in CLIA increased from 0.19% in May to 0.39% in October, and IgG seroprevalence decreased from 0.97% in May to 0.39% in October. The proportion of IgM seroprevalence in the rapid kit test decreased from 7.96% in May to 3.50% in October, and IgG seroprevalence decreased from 7.77% in May to 2.14% in October. The IgG and IgM antibody seroprevalence among hospital staff in rural Central Fukushima decreased; the seroprevalence among hospital staff was consistent with the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Central Fukushima area. Although it is difficult to interpret the results of the antibody assay in a population with a low prior probability, constant follow-up surveys of antibody titers among hospital staff had several merits in obtaining a set of criteria regarding the accuracy of measures against COVID-19 and estimating the COVID-19 infection status among hospital staff.
Keywords: Antibody prevalence; COVID-19; Cohort study; Serological assay.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, cohort study, Serological assay, Antibody prevalence, 【초록키워드】 CLIA, IgG, IgM, antibody, Seroprevalence, Infection, cohort study, Hospital staff, Probability, Serological assay, SARS-CoV-2 antibody, Accuracy, COVID-19 infection, chemiluminescence immunoassay, Antibody titer, Follow-up, change, Antibody titers, high-risk population, Analysis, criteria, IgG and IgM, IgM antibody, measure, participant, seropositive individuals, confirmed COVID-19 case, Performing, COVID-19 infection status, proportion, was performed, changes in, chose, Fukushima, seropositive individual, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2 antibody, Fukushima,