Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39878891›Full record

ArticleJournal of epidemiology and global health2025

Reduced SARS-CoV-2 Infection Rates in Lab Workers Conducting Nucleic Acid Testing: Controlling for the Healthy Worker Effect.

Ling-Qing Lin, Yu-Yan Chen, Gen-Zhao Lin, Xu Shen, Tian-Ci Yang, Li-Li Liu, Yao Xiao

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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of epidemiology and global health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ling-Qing Lin *Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, No.201-209 Hubinnan Road, Xiamen, 361004, China.
Yu-Yan Chen *Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, No.201-209 Hubinnan Road, Xiamen, 361004, China.
Gen-Zhao Lin *School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Xu ShenDepartment of Hospital Infection Management, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Tian-Ci YangCenter of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, No.201-209 Hubinnan Road, Xiamen, 361004, China. yangtianci@xmu.edu.cn.
Li-Li LiuCenter of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, No.201-209 Hubinnan Road, Xiamen, 361004, China. liulili@xmu.edu.cn.
Yao XiaoCenter of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, No.201-209 Hubinnan Road, Xiamen, 361004, China. xiaoyao@xmu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82003512National Natural Science Foundation of China 82271387National Natural Science Foundation of China 82272370Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province 2022J02055
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDuring the COVID-19 outbreak in December 2022 in China, some laboratory workers in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing (NAT) laboratories remained uninfected.

objectivesTo evaluate if the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was reduced in laboratory workers who performed SARS-CoV-2 NAT, and whether this reduction resulted from the healthy worker effect.

methodsThis retrospective cohort study included 423 laboratory workers from 14 SARS-CoV-2 NAT laboratories in Xiamen, China. The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among laboratory workers was analysed based on whether and how long they were engaged in NAT. The healthy worker effect among the laboratory workers engaged in NAT was examined.

resultsThe incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was lower in workers engaged in SARS-CoV-2 NAT, with a gradual reduction observed as the cumulative time of SARS-CoV-2 NAT increased. A healthy worker effect was observed and eliminated after matching and stratification based on gender, age, education level, and vaccination. Workers who had ever participated in SARS-CoV-2 NAT had a lower cumulative probability of SARS-CoV-2 infection and a longer duration from vaccination to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and this trend was found to be more prominent with a longer cumulative time to SARS-CoV-2 NAT.

conclusionsA reduction in SARS-CoV-2 infections was observed among laboratory workers conducting SARS-CoV-2 NAT after controlling for the healthy worker effect. This finding has broader implications for understanding the role of natural immunity and its interaction with vaccine immunity in defending against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Indexed as

COVID-19COVID-19 Nucleic Acid TestingLaboratory PersonnelAdultChinaFemaleHumansIncidenceMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSARS-CoV-2Healthy worker effectLaboratory workersNatural immunityNucleic acid testingSARS-CoV-2 infection

Identifiers

PMID39878891
PMCPMC11780050

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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.