SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Testing of Blood Donor Samples Helps Estimate Seroprevalence

Monthly cross-sectional testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies on blood donors in 6 U.S. regions has provided estimates of  SARS-CoV-2 infections over time in the general population. The data come from the REDS-IV-P Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Preparedness of the Novel SARS-CoV-2 Epidemic (RESPONSE) study. Westat supports this research as the Data Coordinating Center for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

The findings have been released in a new article in Clinical Infectious Diseases: Use of U.S. Blood Donors for National Serosurveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies: Basis for an Expanded National Donor Serosurveillance Program. Coauthors include Westat’s David Wright, Ph.D., Rebecca Fink, M.P.H.,  and Jean Opsomer, Ph.D.

“The RESPONSE study was critical in demonstrating the feasibility of our statistical approach and led to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded expansion of the serosurvey into all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC,” said Sunitha Mathew, M.S., the project director and a Westat Associate Director for Public Health and Epidemiology.