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

Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Walter de Gruyter

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.

Authors with CRIS profile

Adrian Regensburger Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Antonia Sophia Peter Professur für Genetik Ferdinand Knieling Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Alexandra Wagner Professur für Kinder- u. Jugendmedizin Schwerpunkt Neuropädiatrie David Simon Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology André Hörning Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Joachim Wölfle Lehrstuhl für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin Klaus Überla Lehrstuhl für Klinische und Molekulare Virologie Antje Neubert Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Manfred Rauh Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

Additional Organisation(s)

Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Klinische Forschung (IZKF)

Related research project(s)

J089: Multispectral optoacoustic tomography for non invasive characterization of strictures in Crohn’s disease Jan. 1, 2021 - March 31, 2024

How to cite

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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