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Serological testing of blood donors to characterise the impact of COVID-19 in Melbourne, Australia, 2020

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Listed:
  • Dorothy A Machalek
  • Kaitlyn M Vette
  • Marnie Downes
  • John B Carlin
  • Suellen Nicholson
  • Rena Hirani
  • David O Irving
  • Iain B Gosbell
  • Heather F Gidding
  • Hannah Shilling
  • Eithandee Aung
  • Kristine Macartney
  • John M Kaldor

Abstract

Rapidly identifying and isolating people with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection has been a core strategy to contain COVID-19 in Australia, but a proportion of infections go undetected. We estimated SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody prevalence (seroprevalence) among blood donors in metropolitan Melbourne following a COVID-19 outbreak in the city between June and September 2020. The aim was to determine the extent of infection spread and whether seroprevalence varied demographically in proportion to reported cases of infection. The design involved stratified sampling of residual specimens from blood donors (aged 20–69 years) in three postcode groups defined by low ( 7 cases/1,000 population) COVID-19 incidence based on case notification data. All specimens were tested using the Wantai SARS-CoV-2 total antibody assay. Seroprevalence was estimated with adjustment for test sensitivity and specificity for the Melbourne metropolitan blood donor and residential populations, using multilevel regression and poststratification. Overall, 4,799 specimens were collected between 23 November and 17 December 2020. Seroprevalence for blood donors was 0.87% (90% credible interval: 0.25–1.49%). The highest estimates, of 1.13% (0.25–2.15%) and 1.11% (0.28–1.95%), respectively, were observed among donors living in the lowest socioeconomic areas (Quintiles 1 and 2) and lowest at 0.69% (0.14–1.39%) among donors living in the highest socioeconomic areas (Quintile 5). When extrapolated to the Melbourne residential population, overall seroprevalence was 0.90% (0.26–1.51%), with estimates by demography groups similar to those for the blood donors. The results suggest a lack of extensive community transmission and good COVID-19 case ascertainment based on routine testing during Victoria’s second epidemic wave. Residual blood donor samples provide a practical epidemiological tool for estimating seroprevalence and information on population patterns of infection, against which the effectiveness of ongoing responses to the pandemic can be assessed.

Suggested Citation

  • Dorothy A Machalek & Kaitlyn M Vette & Marnie Downes & John B Carlin & Suellen Nicholson & Rena Hirani & David O Irving & Iain B Gosbell & Heather F Gidding & Hannah Shilling & Eithandee Aung & Kristi, 2022. "Serological testing of blood donors to characterise the impact of COVID-19 in Melbourne, Australia, 2020," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(7), pages 1-11, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0265858
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265858
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrew Gelman & Bob Carpenter, 2020. "Bayesian analysis of tests with unknown specificity and sensitivity," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series C, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 69(5), pages 1269-1283, November.
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