Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38304848›Full record

ArticleHeliyon2024

Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in Northern Ireland during 2020-2021.

Michelle K Greene, Peter Smyth, Andrew English, Joseph McLaughlin, Magda Bucholc, Janice Bailie, Julie McCarroll, Margaret McDonnell, Alison Watt, George Barnes and 14 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Heliyon, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

24 authors.

Michelle K GreeneThe Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Peter SmythThe Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Andrew EnglishPersonalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Ulster University, Londonderry, UK.
Joseph McLaughlinPersonalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Ulster University, Londonderry, UK.
Magda BucholcIntelligent Systems Research Centre, School of Computing, Engineering & Intelligent Systems, Ulster University, Londonderry, UK.
Janice BailieHSC R&D Division, Public Health Agency, Belfast, UK.
Julie McCarrollHSC R&D Division, Public Health Agency, Belfast, UK.
Margaret McDonnellDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK.
Alison WattRegional Virology Laboratory, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK.
George BarnesDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Dundonald, UK.
Mark LynchDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Altnagelvin Hospital, Western Health and Social Care Trust, Londonderry, UK.
Kevan DuffinDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Portadown, UK.
Gerard DuffyDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim, UK.
Claire LewisThe Northern Ireland Biobank, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Jacqueline A JamesThe Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Alan W StittWellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Tom FordBacteriology Branch, Veterinary Sciences Division, AFBI, Belfast, UK.
Maurice O'KaneDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Altnagelvin Hospital, Western Health and Social Care Trust, Londonderry, UK.
Taranjit Singh RaiPersonalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Ulster University, Londonderry, UK.
Anthony J BjoursonPersonalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Ulster University, Londonderry, UK.
Christopher CardwellCentre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
J Stuart ElbornWellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
David S GibsonPersonalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Ulster University, Londonderry, UK.
Christopher J ScottThe Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: With the spread of SARS-CoV-2 impacting upon public health directly and socioeconomically, further information was required to inform policy decisions designed to limit virus spread during the pandemic. This study sought to contribute to serosurveillance work within Northern Ireland to track SARS-CoV-2 progression and guide health strategy. Methods: Sera/plasma samples from clinical biochemistry laboratories were analysed for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Samples were assessed using an Elecsys anti-SARS-CoV-2 or anti-SARS-CoV-2 S ECLIA (Roche) on an automated cobas e 801 analyser. Samples were also assessed via an anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA (Euroimmun). A subset of samples assessed via the Elecsys anti-SARS-CoV-2 ECLIA were subsequently analysed in an ACE2 pseudoneutralisation assay using a V-PLEX SARS-CoV-2 Panel 7 for IgG and ACE2 (Meso Scale Diagnostics). Results: Across three testing rounds (June-July 2020, November-December 2020 and June-July 2021 (rounds 1-3 respectively)), 4844 residual sera/plasma specimens were assayed for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Seropositivity rates increased across the study, peaking at 11.6 % (95 % CI 10.4 %-13.0 %) during round 3. Varying trends in SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity were noted based on demographic factors. For instance, highest rates of seropositivity shifted from older to younger demographics across the study period. In round 3, Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant neutralising antibodies were most frequently detected across age groups, with median concentration of anti-spike protein antibodies elevated in 50-69 year olds and anti-S1 RBD antibodies elevated in 70+ year olds, relative to other age groups. Conclusions: With seropositivity rates of <15 % across the assessment period, it can be concluded that the significant proportion of the Northern Ireland population had not yet naturally contracted the virus by mid-2021.

Indexed as

COVID-19DemographicsPublic health policySARS-CoV-2SeropositivitySeroprevalence

Identifiers

PMID38304848
PMCPMC10830527

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.