Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 specific neutralising antibodies in blood donors from the Lodi Red Zone in Lombardy, Italy, as at 06 April 2020

Euro Surveill. 2020 Jun;25(24):2001031. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.24.2001031.

Abstract

We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 RNA and neutralising antibodies in blood donors (BD) residing in the Lodi Red Zone, Italy. Of 390 BDs recruited after 20 February 2020 - when the first COVID-19 case in Lombardy was identified, 91 (23%) aged 19-70 years were antibody positive. Viral RNA was detected in an additional 17 (4.3%) BDs, yielding ca 28% (108/390) with evidence of virus exposure. Five stored samples collected as early as 12 February were seropositive.

Keywords: Lodi Red Zone; SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence; epidemiology; microneutralization assay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology*
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology*
  • Blood Donors
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Serotherapy
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Passive
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / therapy
  • Prevalence
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Covid-19 aAPC vaccine