COVID-19 Seroprevalence Study in ITM Staff

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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In Belgium, the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic is in the growing phase of its second wave. The Belgian crisis cell is balancing between allowing the economy to recover and minimize the disease spread. To decide which containment measures should be maintained, reinstalled or suspended, information on what proportion of people has been infected and on possible risk factors for virus transmission can be helpful. This study will be conducted on staff members of the ITM. All staff members will be invited to participate. Participants will be asked to have a blood sample drawn for detections of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (using one of these two commercial assays: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA (EUROIMMUN) or WANTAI SARS-CoV-2 Ab ELISA (WANTAI SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostics)) and to complete a questionnaire about their exposure, both within and outside the ITM, to the SARS-CoV-2, and about their health and symptoms. The primary objective is to estimate the occurrence rate of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies or seroprevalence in ITM staff. Secondary objective is to estimate the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in ITM staff member groups, stratified by variables obtained through the questionnaire, such as age, gender, symptoms, exposure to COVID-19 patients/samples, comorbidities, adherence to containment measures.

Detailed Description
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The study is observational and will be conducted on ITM staff members. All members will be invited to participate.

Official Title
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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (CoV) 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Seroprevalence Study in Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) Staff

Conditions
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Covid19

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Be an active ITM staff member Be willing and able to complete the questionnaire Be willing and able to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students, Master students and interns of the ITM
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence ITM staff | The proportion of participating ITM staff members with detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies | Sample is drawn once, within 7 days after recruitment | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in ITM staff, stratified by variables | SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in ITM staff members stratified by variables obtained through the questionnaire, such as age, gender, symptoms, exposure to COVID-19 patients/samples, comorbidities, adherence to containment measures. | Questionnaire is completed once, at recruitment | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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humans, COVID-19, pandemics, SARS virus, cross-sectional studies, seroepidemiological studies, Belgium, risk factors, seroprevalence