Seroprevalence of IgG Anti-SARS-CoV-2 among Voluntary Blood Donors in Dubai: Demographic and Risk Factors

Background and Objectives: During the pandemic of CO­VID-19, additional blood donor eligibility criteria have been added to ensure safety of donors and donations. The aim of this study is to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody in eligible donors and to study the demography and lifesty...

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Main Authors: May Raouf, Mariem Rabeh, Suminder Kaur, Ranjita Sharma, Nimmy Thottumkal, Roukaya Mohammed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Knowledge E 2021-07-01
Series:Dubai Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/517456
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author May Raouf
Mariem Rabeh
Suminder Kaur
Ranjita Sharma
Nimmy Thottumkal
Roukaya Mohammed
author_facet May Raouf
Mariem Rabeh
Suminder Kaur
Ranjita Sharma
Nimmy Thottumkal
Roukaya Mohammed
author_sort May Raouf
collection DOAJ
description Background and Objectives: During the pandemic of CO­VID-19, additional blood donor eligibility criteria have been added to ensure safety of donors and donations. The aim of this study is to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody in eligible donors and to study the demography and lifestyle of asymptomatic cases. Materials and Methods: One thousand four hundred eighteen eligible donors were enrolled in this study in the Dubai Blood Donation Center from August to December 2020. Blood samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibody. Donors’ demographic characteristics and lifestyle were studied further. The χ2 test was used to analyze the data association. Results: 88.4% of the studied group were males, 85% were from age 17 to 45 years, and 53% were regular donors. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody was 13.5% and significantly related to gender, frequency of donation, collection site, type of donation, and more frequent when donors shared transport and accommodation. Blood group and age had no significant association. 5.5% were found to have cough/fever or a history of contact with positive COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody was 13.5% among eligible blood donors, and hence the current eligibility criteria allow asymptomatic COVID-19 patients to donate blood. The seroprevalence was seen more in first time donors, suggesting that regular blood donors are safer. Additional risk factors related to lifestyle can be identified to ensure safety of transfusion during COVID-19 pandemic.
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spelling doaj-art-cb598069bd404d51842b66f005e2c08c2025-01-02T08:17:21ZengKnowledge EDubai Medical Journal2571-726X2021-07-011810.1159/000517456517456Seroprevalence of IgG Anti-SARS-CoV-2 among Voluntary Blood Donors in Dubai: Demographic and Risk FactorsMay Raoufhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6615-3470Mariem RabehSuminder KaurRanjita SharmaNimmy ThottumkalRoukaya MohammedBackground and Objectives: During the pandemic of CO­VID-19, additional blood donor eligibility criteria have been added to ensure safety of donors and donations. The aim of this study is to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody in eligible donors and to study the demography and lifestyle of asymptomatic cases. Materials and Methods: One thousand four hundred eighteen eligible donors were enrolled in this study in the Dubai Blood Donation Center from August to December 2020. Blood samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibody. Donors’ demographic characteristics and lifestyle were studied further. The χ2 test was used to analyze the data association. Results: 88.4% of the studied group were males, 85% were from age 17 to 45 years, and 53% were regular donors. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody was 13.5% and significantly related to gender, frequency of donation, collection site, type of donation, and more frequent when donors shared transport and accommodation. Blood group and age had no significant association. 5.5% were found to have cough/fever or a history of contact with positive COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody was 13.5% among eligible blood donors, and hence the current eligibility criteria allow asymptomatic COVID-19 patients to donate blood. The seroprevalence was seen more in first time donors, suggesting that regular blood donors are safer. Additional risk factors related to lifestyle can be identified to ensure safety of transfusion during COVID-19 pandemic.https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/517456sars-cov-2 antibodydonor eligibilitydonor demographylifestyle
spellingShingle May Raouf
Mariem Rabeh
Suminder Kaur
Ranjita Sharma
Nimmy Thottumkal
Roukaya Mohammed
Seroprevalence of IgG Anti-SARS-CoV-2 among Voluntary Blood Donors in Dubai: Demographic and Risk Factors
Dubai Medical Journal
sars-cov-2 antibody
donor eligibility
donor demography
lifestyle
title Seroprevalence of IgG Anti-SARS-CoV-2 among Voluntary Blood Donors in Dubai: Demographic and Risk Factors
title_full Seroprevalence of IgG Anti-SARS-CoV-2 among Voluntary Blood Donors in Dubai: Demographic and Risk Factors
title_fullStr Seroprevalence of IgG Anti-SARS-CoV-2 among Voluntary Blood Donors in Dubai: Demographic and Risk Factors
title_full_unstemmed Seroprevalence of IgG Anti-SARS-CoV-2 among Voluntary Blood Donors in Dubai: Demographic and Risk Factors
title_short Seroprevalence of IgG Anti-SARS-CoV-2 among Voluntary Blood Donors in Dubai: Demographic and Risk Factors
title_sort seroprevalence of igg anti sars cov 2 among voluntary blood donors in dubai demographic and risk factors
topic sars-cov-2 antibody
donor eligibility
donor demography
lifestyle
url https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/517456
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AT suminderkaur seroprevalenceofiggantisarscov2amongvoluntaryblooddonorsindubaidemographicandriskfactors
AT ranjitasharma seroprevalenceofiggantisarscov2amongvoluntaryblooddonorsindubaidemographicandriskfactors
AT nimmythottumkal seroprevalenceofiggantisarscov2amongvoluntaryblooddonorsindubaidemographicandriskfactors
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