Detection of SARS-CoV-2- specific antibodies in asymptomatic healthcare workers in a tertiary care hospital in NCR

Abstract

Covid 19 caused by SARS-Cov-2 is often asymptomatic in presentation and therefore poses a major health hazard and is even more dangerous in healthcare workers who are giving care to patients. The only means of diagnosis in such cases is by antibody detection – IgM or IgG – which can reflect upon immune status of person and simultaneously it also reflects upon maintenance of covid hygiene etiquettes by the HCWs. The present study is aimed at detection of IgG antibody in HCWs in a tertiary care teaching hospital in NCR by ELISA and the HCWs were divided into high, intermediate and low risk category based on their posting in covid wards. The overall positivity for IgG including all categories was 28.9% whereas in high risk group 33% were IgG positive, in intermediate risk 24% were IgG positive while in low risk category 32% were positive.