Evaluation of COVID-19 Antibody Positivity of Health Professionals

Abstract

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease which has become a pandemic in a short time-period. Antibody response develops after 7-11 days in COVID-19 patients. Serologic tests are thought to be beneficial for checking status of the health professionals during the pandemic. In the present study, it was aimed to evaluate the antibody levels of the health professionals who work in our hospital at the beginning of the pandemic. Material and Method: The results of 150 health professionals who participated in the COVID-19 antibody screening which was performed in our hospital between April 2020 and May 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. Colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic test was performed on the serums which was obtained from the blood samples. Demographic characteristics, leukocyte counts, lymphocyte counts, C-reactive protein values, and lung Computed Tomography (CT) findings were included in the study. Results: A total of 150 subjects (95 females) with a mean age of 39.5 ± 9.3 years were included in the study. Antibody positivity was detected in seven (4.6%) subjects. Ground-glass infiltrates consistent with viral pneumonia were observed in the lung CT of two positive subjects. Conclusion: Detecting approximately 5% antibody positivity in the health professionals who work in our hospital at the beginning of the pandemic, indicates the necessities of pursuing the health professionals who are in the risky group for COVID-19 and taking precautions.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• immunochromatographic test
• health professionals.

Sağlık Personelinin COVID-19 Antikor Pozitifliğinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Koronavirüs hastalığı 2019 (COVID-19) kısa bir sürede pandemi haline gelmiş enfeksiyöz bir hastalıktır. COVID-19 hastalarında 7-11 gün sonra antikor cevabı gelişmektedir. Salgın süresince sağlık çalışanlarının durumunu kontrol etme açısından serolojik testlerin faydalı olduğu düşünülmektedir. Bu çalışmada salgının başlangıcında hastanemiz sağlık personelinin antikor pozitifliğinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Nisan 2020-Mayıs 2020 tarihleri arasında hastanemizde yapılan COVID-19 antikor taramasına katılan 150 adet sağlık personeline ait sonuçlar retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Kan örneklerinden elde edilen serumlara kolloidal altın bazlı immunokromatografik test yöntemi uygulandı. Demografik özellikler, lökosit sayısı, lenfosit sayısı, C-reaktif protein değerleri ve akciğer Bilgisayarlı Tomografi (BT) bulguları çalışmaya dahil edildi. Bulgular: Çalışmaya yaş ortalaması 39,5 ± 9,3 yıl olan toplam 150 kişi (95 kadın) dahil edildi. Yedi kişide (%4,6) antikor pozitifliği saptandı. İki pozitif kişinin akciğer BT’sinde viral pnömoni ile uyumlu buzlu cam infiltrasyonlarının varlığı gözlendi. Sonuç: Salgının ilk döneminde hastanemiz sağlık çalışanlarında yaklaşık %5 oranında antikor pozitifliği saptanması COVID-19 açısından riskli grupta olan sağlık personelinin devamlı izlenmesi ve tedbirlerin alınması gerekliliklerini ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• immunokromatografik test
• sağlık çalışanı.

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