Reactivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Serbian voluntary blood donors

Milomir Radoslav Bezanovic; Zorana Budakov Obradovic; Nevenka Bujandric; Neda Kocic; Mirjana Krga Milanovic; Milan Majkic; Boris Obrovski; Jasmina Grujic

doi:10.1111/tme.13034

Reactivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Serbian voluntary blood donors

Transfus Med. 2024 Apr 1. doi: 10.1111/tme.13034. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Milomir Radoslav Bezanovic¹, Zorana Budakov Obradovic^{1

2}, Nevenka Bujandric^{1

2}, Neda Kocic¹, Mirjana Krga Milanovic¹, Milan Majkic³, Boris Obrovski⁴, Jasmina Grujic^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department for Blood Collection, Testing and Production of Blood Products, Blood Transfusion Institute of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia.
² Department of Transfusiology, Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
³ Clinic for Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia.
⁴ Department of Environmental Engineering and Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.

PMID: 38561316
DOI: 10.1111/tme.13034

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has major implications on the entire blood supply system worldwide. Seroepidemiological studies are certainly necessary for better understanding the global burden that the COVID-19 pandemic represents.

Objectives: In this study, we analysed the association between demographic factors, COVID-19 severity, vaccination status and the reactivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in Serbian blood donors.

Materials and methods: In a prospective study, demographic data and data related to previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 severity and vaccination status among whole blood donors were analysed, from February 10 to August 10, 2022, at the Blood Transfusion Institute of Vojvodina, Serbia. The detection and determination of the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies were performed using LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 TrimericS IgG immunoassay.

Results: A total of 1190 blood donors were included, 24.5% were female and 75.5% were male while their average age was 41 years. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody values ranged from 2.40 to 3120 BAU/ml with a mean value of 1354.56 BAU/ml. Statistical analysis showed that COVID-19 severity and vaccination status are linked with reactivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, while gender and age of voluntary blood donors are not related to the values of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Conclusion: The values of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in voluntary blood donors in Serbia are kept relatively high, especially in blood donors who have overcome the severe COVID-19, as well as in donors who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Further SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence studies in our country are certainly still necessary so global strategies to fight against COVID-19 would be adequately evaluated.

Keywords: COVID‐19; SARS‐CoV‐2; Serbia.