Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among workers in the University Hospital of Guadeloupe

Palmeri, V; Le Turdu-Chicot, C; Garin, B; Auguste, A; Roger, P M

Objective: The Covid-19 pandemic is the major global health crisis of our time. The purpose of this study is to estimate the seroprevalence of IgG against SARS-CoV-2 among workers in the University Hospi-tal of Guadeloupe and to assess this seroprevalence in asymptomatic personnel as well as the proportion of asymptomatic agents among seropositive agents. Setting and methods: We carried out a seroprevalence study in the staff of the University Hospital of Guadeloupe. The presence of IgG anti SARS-CoV-2 was determined by a micro-particulate immunolo-gical assay using the chemiluminescence technique (CMIA, Architect i2000SR, Abbott). Data on the previous presence of symptoms sugge-stive of COVID-19, were identified using a standardized questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using Epi Info® software. Results: From 07/05/2020 to 28/10/2020, 892 serologies were performed, 45 of which were positive for SARS-CoV-2 : a prevalence of 5.0% [95% CI: 3.6% - 6.5%]. Seroprevalence was 1.5% [95% CI: 0.6% - 2.3%] among agents who reported being asymptomatic. Among seropositive individuals, 24.4% [95% CI:12% - 36%] was totally asymptomatic. Conclusion: Our results highlight the importance of continuing seroprevalence studies for SARS-CoV-2 in hospital staff, which can provide important information on the level of exposure in healthcare workers and asymptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical set-tings.