SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Prevalence Among Healthcare Workers and First Responders, Florida, May-June, 2020

Authors

James Matthias, STD and Viral Hepatitis Section, Florida Department of HealthFollow
Emma C. Spencer, Florida Department of HealthFollow
Mara Michniewicz, Florida Department of HealthFollow
Thomas Bendle, Florida Department of HealthFollow
Craig Wilson, STD and Viral Hepatitis Section, Florida Department of HealthFollow
Kenneth Scheppke, Florida Department of HealthFollow
Carina Blackmore, Florida Department of HealthFollow
Aaron Otis, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionFollow
Scott Rivkees, Florida Department of HealthFollow

Publication Date

2-25-2021

Abstract

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for severe respiratory infection associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first confirmed in Florida on March 1, 2020. Responding to the pandemic, multi-agency collaborative partnerships put in place actions integrating point-of-care antibody testing at established large-scale COVID-19 testing sites where the baseline seropositivity of COVID-19 in health care workers and first responders in Florida at the start of the pandemic was established.

Purpose: Determine the seropositivity of healthcare workers and first responders at five drive thru testing sites using a rapid SARS-CoV-2 antibody test in Florida from May 6 through June 3, 2020.

Methods: The first drive-thru SARS-CoV-2 antibody test site was opened at Miami Hard Rock Stadium, May 6, 2020. Testing expanded to three additional sites on May 9, 2020: Jacksonville, Orlando, and Palm Beach. The fifth and final site, Miami Beach, began testing on May 21, 2020. Healthcare workers and first responder’s self-seeking SARS-CoV-2 testing were designated for antibody testing and completed a laboratory collection form on-site for the point-of-care test. All testing was performed on whole blood specimens (obtained by venipuncture) using the Cellex Inc. qSARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM Rapid Test. Seropositivity was assessed by univariate analysis and by logistic regression including the covariates age, sex, race/ethnicity, and testing location.

Results and Discussion: As of June 3, 2020, of 5,779 healthcare workers and first responders tested, 4.1% were seropositive (range 2.6–8.2%). SARS-COV-2 antibody tests had higher odds of being positive for persons testing at the Miami Hard Rock Stadium (aOR 2.24 [95% C.I. 1.48-3.39]), persons of Haitian/Creole ethnicity (aOR 3.28 [95% C.I. 1.23-8.72]), Hispanic/Latino(a) ethnicity (aOR 2.17 [95% C.I. 1.50-3.13], and Black non-Hispanic persons (aOR 1.63 [95% C.I. 1.08-2.46]). SARS-COV-2 antibody prevalence among first responders and healthcare workers in five sites in Florida varied by race and ethnicity and by testing location.

Recommended Citation

Matthias, James; Spencer, Emma C.; Michniewicz, Mara; Bendle, Thomas; Wilson, Craig; Scheppke, Kenneth; Blackmore, Carina; Otis, Aaron; and Rivkees, Scott (2021) "SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Prevalence Among Healthcare Workers and First Responders, Florida, May-June, 2020," Florida Public Health Review: Vol. 18, Article 1.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/fphr/vol18/iss1/1