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. 2021 Jul;83(1):104-111.
doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.04.028. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in university students: Cross-sectional study, December 2020, England

Amoolya Vusirikala  1 , Heather Whitaker  2 , Samuel Jones  2 , Elise Tessier  2 , Ray Borrow  3 , Ezra Linley  3 , Katja Hoschler  2 , Frances Baawuah  2 , Shazaad Ahmad  4 , Nick Andrews  2 , Mary Ramsay  2 , Shamez N Ladhani  5 , Kevin E Brown  2 , Gayatri Amirthalingam  2
Affiliations

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in university students: Cross-sectional study, December 2020, England

Amoolya Vusirikala et al. J Infect. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Background: In England, the reopening of universities in September 2020 coincided with a rapid increase in SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in university aged young adults. This study aimed to estimate SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in students attending universities that had experienced a COVID-19 outbreak after reopening for the autumn term in September 2020.

Methods: A cross-sectional serosurvey was conducted during 02-11 December 2020 in students aged ≤ 25 years across five universities in England. Blood samples for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing were obtained using a self-sampling kit and analysed using the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 N antibody and/or an in-house receptor binding domain (RBD) assay.

Findings: SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in 2,905 university students was 17.8% (95%CI, 16.5-19.3), ranging between 7.6%-29.7% across the five universities. Seropositivity was associated with being younger likely to represent first year undergraduates (aOR 3.2, 95% CI 2.0-4.9), living in halls of residence (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.7-2.7) and sharing a kitchen with an increasing number of students (shared with 4-7 individuals, aOR 1.43, 95%CI 1.12-1.82; shared with 8 or more individuals, aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.04-2.24). Seropositivity was 49% in students living in halls of residence that reported high SARS-CoV-2 infection rates (>8%) during the autumn term.

Interpretation: Despite large numbers of cases and outbreaks in universities, less than one in five students (17.8%) overall had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at the end of the autumn term in England. In university halls of residence affected by a COVID-19 outbreak, however, nearly half the resident students became infected and developed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 infection; Students; Transmission; Universities.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
. Flow diagram for study participants. The number of study participants (n) are provided. Reasons for exclusion are given.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
. University seropositivity by regional community blood donor seroprevalence estimates.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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