Pattern and Sero-prevalence of Covid-19 Screening among Patients in a Tertiary Hospital, South-western Nigeria

Department of Chemical Pathology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife.

^*Corresponding Author

Abiodun Kofoworola Ajeigbe

Department of Chemical Pathology

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife

Nigeria

Tel:+234 803 690 269

Email:abiodunalaje1@gmail.com

Abstract

Background: The global pandemic due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its related COVID-19 infection has placed more demand and responsibility on clinical laboratories for screening and confirmatory tests. The serological tests for screening appear to be of great benefit in resource poor settings like ours to facilitate diagnosis and monitoring of COVID-19 infection. We therefore, determined the pattern and the sero-prevalence of SARSCoV-2 based on requests received at the Point of Care Testing Unit of the OAUTHC, Ile-Ife.

Methods: A total of 1653 results of SARS-CoV-2 serology requests were assessed in this descriptive study. All requests received within a period of six months were analyzed for age, gender, sources and immunoglobulin pattern for sero-prevalence using descriptive statistics. Requests were categorized into pediatric and adult age groups, while results were compared between male and female gender.

Results: Requests from children and adults accounted for 284 and 1369 respectively in a male to female ratio of 1.07:1 in children and 1:1.07 in adults. There was a bimodal mean age of 8.6±0.35years and 34.2±0.7years in children and adults respectively. The highest requests were from surgery and emergency units accounting for 28% and 26% respectively. Adult females had a higher IgG sero-prevalence while adult males reacted more to IgM. Overall sero-prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was 26.3% giving 20% and 27% for children and adults respectively.

Conclusion: The sero-prevalence of SARSCoV-2 was higher among adult population and female gender appeared to be a modifying factor.

Keywords: COVID-19, Serology, Screening

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