Continuous monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in children using residual blood samples from routine clinical chemistry

Wachter F, Regensburger A, Peter AS, Knieling F, Wagner A, Simon D, Hörning A, Wölfle J, Überla K, Neubert A, Rauh M (2022)


Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2022-0037

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.

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APA:

Wachter, F., Regensburger, A., Peter, A.S., Knieling, F., Wagner, A., Simon, D.,... Rauh, M. (2022). Continuous monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in children using residual blood samples from routine clinical chemistry. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2022-0037

MLA:

Wachter, Felix, et al. "Continuous monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in children using residual blood samples from routine clinical chemistry." Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (2022).

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