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. 2021 Jul 15;224(2):188-195.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab296.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in New York City Adults, June-October 2020: A Population-Based Survey

Jannae C Parrott  1 , Ariana N Maleki  1 , Valerie E Vassor  1 , Sukhminder Osahan  1 , Yusyin Hsin  1 , Michael Sanderson  1 , Steven Fernandez  1 , Amber Levanon Seligson  1 , Scott Hughes  1 , Jing Wu  1 , Andrea K DeVito  1 , Stephen P LaVoie  1 , Jennifer L Rakeman  1 , L Hannah Gould  1 , Karen A Alroy  1   2
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Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in New York City Adults, June-October 2020: A Population-Based Survey

Jannae C Parrott et al. J Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Serosurveys help to ascertain burden of infection. Prior severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) serosurveys in New York City (NYC) used nonrandom samples. During June-October 2020, the NYC Health Department conducted a population-based survey estimating SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in NYC adults.

Methods: Participants were recruited from the NYC 2020 Community Health Survey. We estimated citywide and stratified antibody prevalence using a hybrid design: serum tested with the DiaSorin LIAISON SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG assay and self-reported antibody test results were used together. We estimated univariate frequencies and 95% confidence intervals (CI), accounting for complex survey design. Two-sided P values ≤ .05 were statistically significant.

Results: There were 1074 respondents; 497 provided blood and 577 provided only a self-reported antibody test result. Weighted prevalence was 24.3% overall (95% CI, 20.7%-28.3%). Latino (30.7%; 95% CI, 24.1%-38.2%; P < .01) and black (30.7%; 95% CI, 21.9%-41.2%; P = .02) respondents had a higher weighted prevalence compared with white respondents (17.4%; 95% CI, 12.5%-23.7%).

Conclusions: By October 2020, nearly 1 in 3 black and 1 in 3 Latino NYC adults had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, highlighting unequal impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on black and Latino NYC adults.

Keywords: New York City; SARS-CoV-2; antibody prevalence; population-based; seroprevalence.

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Comment in

  • A Tale of Many New York Cities.
    Rosenberg ES, Tesoriero JM. Rosenberg ES, et al. J Infect Dis. 2021 Jul 15;224(2):185-187. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab297. J Infect Dis. 2021. PMID: 34086945 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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