Healthcare staff perceptions and misconceptions regarding antibody testing in the United Kingdom: implications for the next steps for antibody screening.
Antibody testing
COVID-19
Healthcare staff
Journal
The Journal of hospital infection
ISSN: 1532-2939
Titre abrégé: J Hosp Infect
Pays: England
ID NLM: 8007166
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
May 2021
May 2021
Historique:
received:
16
09
2020
revised:
22
11
2020
accepted:
23
11
2020
pubmed:
15
12
2020
medline:
7
5
2021
entrez:
14
12
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Healthcare workers have been at increased risk of exposure, infection and serious complications from COVID-19. Antibody testing has been used to identify staff members who have been previously infected by SARS-CoV-2, and has been rolled out rapidly in the United Kingdom. A number of comment and editorial articles have been published that raise concerns about antibody testing in this context. We present perceptions of National Health Service (NHS) healthcare workers in relation to SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing. An electronic survey regarding perceptions towards SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing was distributed to all healthcare workers at a major NHS tertiary hospital following implementation of antibody testing. In total, 560 healthcare workers completed the survey (80% female; 25% of Black and Minority Ethnic background; 58% from frontline clinical staff). Exploring whether they previously had COVID-19 was the primary reported reason for choosing to undergo antibody testing (85.2%). In case of a positive antibody test, 72% reported that they would feel relieved, whilst 48% felt that they would be happier to work in a patient-facing area. Moreover, 12% responded that a positive test would mean "social distancing is less important", with 34% of the responders indicating that in this case they would be both less likely to catch COVID-19 and happier to visit friends/relatives. NHS staff members primarily seek out SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing for an appropriate reason. Based on our findings and given the lack of definite data regarding the extent of immunity protection from a positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody test, significant concerns may be raised regarding the reported interpretation by healthcare workers of positive antibody test results. This needs to be further explored and addressed to protect NHS staff and patients.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Healthcare workers have been at increased risk of exposure, infection and serious complications from COVID-19. Antibody testing has been used to identify staff members who have been previously infected by SARS-CoV-2, and has been rolled out rapidly in the United Kingdom. A number of comment and editorial articles have been published that raise concerns about antibody testing in this context. We present perceptions of National Health Service (NHS) healthcare workers in relation to SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing.
METHODS
METHODS
An electronic survey regarding perceptions towards SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing was distributed to all healthcare workers at a major NHS tertiary hospital following implementation of antibody testing.
RESULTS
RESULTS
In total, 560 healthcare workers completed the survey (80% female; 25% of Black and Minority Ethnic background; 58% from frontline clinical staff). Exploring whether they previously had COVID-19 was the primary reported reason for choosing to undergo antibody testing (85.2%). In case of a positive antibody test, 72% reported that they would feel relieved, whilst 48% felt that they would be happier to work in a patient-facing area. Moreover, 12% responded that a positive test would mean "social distancing is less important", with 34% of the responders indicating that in this case they would be both less likely to catch COVID-19 and happier to visit friends/relatives.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
NHS staff members primarily seek out SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing for an appropriate reason. Based on our findings and given the lack of definite data regarding the extent of immunity protection from a positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody test, significant concerns may be raised regarding the reported interpretation by healthcare workers of positive antibody test results. This needs to be further explored and addressed to protect NHS staff and patients.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33309938
pii: S0195-6701(20)30543-0
doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2020.11.019
pmc: PMC7834281
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Antibodies, Viral
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
102-106Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.