Proportions of US Blood Donors with Serological Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infections Who Reported Survey-Based Diagnosed Infections During July 2020-December 2022

Abstract

The proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections diagnosed by COVID-19 tests, including home antigen tests, is unknown. We detected infections among U.S. blood donors by testing for nucleocapsid antibody (anti-N) seroconversion and administered a questionnaire to determine the proportion of those infections that were associated with a self-reported positive COVID-19 test. Among U.S. blood donors with serologic evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection who completed a survey, 47.7% reported an associated self-reported positive COVID-19 test. This proportion changed from July-December 2020 (44.9%) to July-December 2022 (54.8%). This study suggests many SARS-CoV-2 infections in adults are not diagnosed with a test.

Graphical Abstract

SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, antibody assay, viral tests, questionnaires, blood donors

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