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. 2020:54:69.
doi: 10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054002643. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 among blood donors in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Luiz Amorim Filho  1 , Célia Landmann Szwarcwald  2 , Sheila de Oliveira Garcia Mateos  1 , Antonio Carlos Monteiro Ponce de Leon  3 , Roberto de Andrade Medronho  4 , Valdiléa Gonçalves Veloso  5 , Josiane Iole França Lopes  6 , Luis Cristovão de Moraes Sobrino Porto  7 , Alexandre Chieppe  8 , Guilherme Loureiro Werneck  9 ; Grupo Hemorio de Pesquisa em Covid-19
Affiliations

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 among blood donors in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Luiz Amorim Filho et al. Rev Saude Publica. 2020.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To estimate the seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 among blood donors in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS Data were collected on 2,857 blood donors from April 14 to 27, 2020. This study reports crude prevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, population weighted prevalence for the state, and prevalence adjusted for test sensitivity and specificity. Logistic regression models were used to establish the correlates of SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. For the analysis, we considered collection period and site, sociodemographic characteristics, and place of residence. RESULTS The proportion of positive tests for SARS-Cov-2, without any adjustment, was 4.0% (95%CI 3.3-4.7%), and the weighted prevalence was 3.8% (95%CI 3.1-4.5%). We found lower estimates after adjusting for test sensitivity and specificity: 3.6% (95%CI 2.7-4.4%) for the non-weighted prevalence, and 3.3% (95%CI 2.6-4.1%) for the weighted prevalence. Collection period was the variable most significantly associated with crude prevalence: the later the period, the higher the prevalence. Regarding sociodemographic characteristics, the younger the blood donor, the higher the prevalence, and the lower the education level, the higher the odds of testing positive for SARS-Cov-2 antibody. We found similar results for weighted prevalence. CONCLUSIONS Our findings comply with some basic premises: the increasing trend over time, as the epidemic curve in the state is still on the rise; and the higher prevalence among both the youngest, for moving around more than older age groups, and the less educated, for encountering more difficulties in following social distancing recommendations. Despite the study limitations, we may infer that Rio de Janeiro is far from reaching the required levels of herd immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Prevalence by period of time according to the type of antibody detected.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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