RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Patterns of negative seroconversion in ongoing surveys of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among workers in New York’s largest healthcare system
JF Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JO Occup Environ Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP oemed-2021-107382
DO 10.1136/oemed-2021-107382
A1 Grace Sembajwe
A1 Rehana Rasul
A1 Yehuda Jacobs
A1 Keisha Edwards
A1 Lorraine Chambers Lewis
A1 Tylis Chang
A1 William Lowe
A1 Jacqueline Moline
YR 2021
UL http://oem.bmj.com/content/early/2021/08/24/oemed-2021-107382.abstract
AB Objectives Given the importance of continued COVID-19 surveillance, our objective was to present findings from a short follow-up survey of workforce SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing in previously seropositive participants and describe associations between work locations and negative seroconversion.Methods We conducted a follow-up cross-sectional survey on previously seropositive healthcare workers, using questionnaires and serology testing. Eligible employees previously consented to be contacted were invited by email to participate in a survey and laboratory blood draws. SAS V.9.4 was used to describe employee characteristics and seroconversion status. Binomial regression models were used to calculate unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) of seronegativity. The multivariable analyses included age, gender, race/ethnicity, region of residence, work location, prior diagnosis/PCR results and days between antibody tests. Unadjusted and adjusted PRs 95% CIs and p values were reported.Results Of the 3990 employees emailed in the follow-up, 1631 completed an exposure survey and generated a blood-draw requisition form. Average time between serology testing was 4 months. Of the 955 employees with complete serology results, 79.1% were female, 53.4% were white and 46.4% resided in Long Island; 176 participants seroconverted to negative. In multivariable regression analyses adjusted for gender, race/ethnicity and region of residence, younger employees (<20–30 years), intensive care unit workers and those with no/negative prior PCR results were more likely to have negative seroconversion.Conclusions and relevance Patterns of negative seroconversion showed significant differences by sociodemographic and workplace characteristics. These results contribute information to workplace serosurveillance.No data are publicly available. The data given are deidentified workforce data reported in the aggregate.