Nationwide Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Saudi Arabia

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2021.04.006
• Publication Date: 2021-04-24T15:38:23Z
• Authors: Naif Khalaf Alharbi; Suliman Alghnam; Abdullah Algaissi; Hind Albalawi; Mohammed W. Alenazi; Areeb M. Albargawi; Abdullah G. Alharbi; Abdulaziz Alhazmi; Ali Al Qarni; Ali Alfarhan; Hosam M. Zowawi; Hind Alhatmi; Jahad Alghamdi; Fayhan Alroqi; Khalid Batarfi; Yaseen M. Arabi; Anwar M. Hashem; Mohammed Bosaeed; Omar Aldibasi
• Keywords: Seroprevalence; Pandemic

Estimated seroprevalence of Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a critical evidence for better evaluation virus spread and monitoring progress COVID-19 pandemic in population. In Kingdom Saudi Arabia (KSA), SARS-CoV-2 has been reported specific regions, but an extensive nationwide study not reported. Here, we report to determine prevalence population KSA during pandemic, using serum samples from healthy blood donors, non-COVID patients healthcare workers (HCWs) six different regions kingdom, with addition patients. A total 11,703 were collected including; 5395 residual donors (D); 5877 through sera at clinical biochemistry labs (P); 400 consented HCWs. To SARS-CoV-2, all samples, positive control RT-PCR confirmed patients, subjected in-house ELISA sample pooling strategy, which was further validated testing individual that make up some pools, statistical estimation method estimates. Overall (combining D P groups) estimate around 11% Arabia; 5.1% (Riyadh), 1.5% (Jazan), 18.4% (Qassim), 20.8% (Hail), 14.7% (ER; Alahsa), 18.8% Makkah. Makkah only group had rate 24.4% 12.8% cities Jeddah, respectively. The across sampled areas would be 12 times infection rate. Among HCWs, 7.5% (4.95–10.16 CI 95%) reactive antibodies without reporting any previously infection. This higher HCWs hypertension. also presents demographics co-morbidities subset non-COVID-19 Our estimates overall national serological 11%, apparent disparity between regions. indicates asymptomatic or mild unreported cases.