The Pre-Vaccination Donated Blood Is Free from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) but Is Rich with Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies: A Cross-Section Saudi Study

Abstract

(1) Backgrounds and Objectives: Since its discovery, information about the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly. However, many issues remain unresolved. Coronaviruses are primarily transmitted through respiratory secretions. The possibility of transmission via donated blood transfusion deserves studying. This is the first study in Saudi Arabia to look at pre-vaccination donated blood anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody content as a marker for virus transmission via viral RNA positive blood and/or the potential therapeutic value of convalescent plasma. (2) Methods: A total of 300 blood samples were sequentially collected from unvaccinated donors who donated blood to the blood bank of Prince Mutaib Bin Abdulaziz Hospital in Sakaka, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia. Specific ELISA was used to detect anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies. SARS-CoV-2 was detected using specific real-time reverse-transcription PCR (rRT-PCR). (3) Results: The prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was low (9%), whereas the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM was high (65%). Relevant demographics, anthropometrics, and lifestyle factors revealed significant associations (p < 0.05) between IgM-positivity only vs. age (age group 21–30 years), postgraduate education, no history of international travel, IgG-negativity, and absence of experience with COVID-19-like symptoms. Furthermore, there are significant associations (p < 0.05) between IgG-positivity only vs. age (age group 21–30 years), postgraduate education, and being a non-healthcare worker. All donors in the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG-positive group (n = 27) had previously experienced symptoms similar to COVID-19 (p < 0.001) and most of them (n = 24) showed anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM-positive test (p = 0.006). However, all the samples tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using rRT-PCR. (4) Conclusion: Our findings add to the growing body of evidence that donated blood is safe, with the added benefit of convalescent plasma rich in potentially neutralizing IgG and IgM against SARS-CoV-2.

High Seroprevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG among Inhabitants of Sakaka City, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia

“…Lower rates of IgM and IgG seropositivity were also reported in Iran (22% and 33%, respectively) [ 30 ], USA (2.49% and 4.16%, respectively) [ 31 ], and Sweden (1.7% and 6.8%, respectively) [ 32 ]. The higher seropositivity in the current study could confirm the high exposure detected in our previous study in which the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM was high (65%) in 3 00 non-vaccinated participants [ 33 ] and/or could be due the availability of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines at our locality and the good community turnout to vaccination (43.8%); 52.5% of the IgM positive were vaccinated compared to 47.5% of the same group who were unvaccinated, and, 72.2% of the IgG positive group were vaccinated compared to 27.8% of the same group were unvaccinated. Furthermore, the high IgM and IgG seroprevalence detected in the conducted study among smokers, participants aged ≥40 years, and patients with chronic diseases could reflect their more susceptibility to the SARS-CoV-2 infection and the special care needed for them to prevent COVID-19 complications.…”

“…Thus, according to the high rate of exposure (65%) to SARS-CoV-2 detected among non-vaccinated participants at our locality in our previous study [ 33 ], the high seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG (45.8%, and 42.3%, respectively), the percentage of unvaccinated anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG positive participants (47.5 and 27.8% of the IgM positive and IgG positive participants were unvaccinated, respectively), and the high SARS-CoV-2 vaccination rate (43.8%) detected at our locality in the current study, these data can predict the success of the public health interventions towards efficient immunization of our community.…”