SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among parturient women in Philadelphia

Abstract

Limited data are available for pregnant women affected by SARS-CoV-2. Serological tests are critically important for determining SARS-CoV-2 exposures within both individuals and populations. We validated a SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain serological test using 834 pre-pandemic samples and 31 samples from COVID-19 recovered donors. We then completed SARS-CoV-2 serological testing of 1,293 parturient women at two centers in Philadelphia from April 4 to June 3, 2020. We found 80/1,293 (6.2%) of parturient women possessed IgG and/or IgM SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. We found race/ethnicity differences in seroprevalence rates, with higher rates in Black/non-Hispanic and Hispanic/Latino women. Of the 72 seropositive women who also received nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction testing during pregnancy, 46 (64%) were positive. Continued serologic surveillance among pregnant women may inform perinatal clinical practices and can potentially be used to estimate exposure to SARS-CoV-2 within the community.

SARS-COV-2 IgG antibody response in pregnant women at delivery

“…The result of our preliminary study is consistent with the recent report of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among parturient women in Philadelphia [ 20 ]. Among 1293 delivering women in two centers of Philadelphia between April 4th and June 3rd 2020, 6.2 % had positive SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG and/or IgM.…”

Risk factors for adverse outcomes among pregnant and postpartum women with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID‐19 in Brazil

“…Pregnant women from ethnic minorities are at increased risk of the severe features of COVID‐19 8,17,23 . In the present sample, black women with COVID‐19 ARDS had a higher chance of adverse outcomes, without the increased likelihood of admission to the ICU.…”

A Dual-Antigen Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Allows the Assessment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibody Seroprevalence in a Low-Transmission Setting

“…Lateral flow devices were used in early studies, but these devices have insufficient sensitivity and specificity for use in low-prevalence settings [ 12 ]. However, more recent studies using ELISA and electrochemiluminescence-based assays with greater statistical rigor have overcome some of these issues and have given reliable estimates of seroprevalence in higher-transmission areas such as the United States [ 3 , 13 ]. Of note, reports on important differences in seropositivity between different SARS-CoV-2 antigens and the effectiveness of measuring dual antigens in low-prevalence populations have emerged [ 14 , 15 ].…”