Abstract
BackgroundThe vast majority of COVID-19 cases both symptomatic and asymptomatic develop immunity after COVID-19 contagion. Whether lasting differences exist between infection and vaccination boosted immunity is yet to be known. The aim of this study was to determine how long total anti-SARS-CoV2 antibodies due to past infection persist in peripheral blood and whether sex, age or haematological features can influence their lasting.Material and methodsA series of 2421 donations either of SARS-CoV-2 convalescent plasma or whole blood from 1107 repeat donors from January 2020 to March 2021 was analysed. An automated chemiluminescence immunoassay for total antibodies recognizing the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 in human serum and plasma was performed. Sex, age, blood group, blood cell counts and percentages and immunoglobulin concentrations were extracted from electronic recordings. Blood donation is allowed after a minimum of one-month post symptom’s relapse. Donors were 69.7% males and their average age was 46. The 250 donors who had later donations after a positive one underwent further analysis. Both qualitative (positivity) and quantitative (rise or decline of optical density regarding consecutive donations) outcomes were evaluated.Results and discussionIn 97.6% of donors with follow-up, anti-SARS-CoV-2 protein N total antibodies remained positive at the end of a follow-up period of 12.4 weeks median time (1–46, SD = 9.65) after the first positive determination. The blood group was not related to antibody waning. Lower lymphocyte counts and higher neutrophils would help predict future waning or decay of antibodies. Most recovered donors maintain their total anti-SARS-CoV-2 N protein antibodies for at least 16 weeks (at least one month must have been awaited from infection resolution to blood donation). The 10 individuals that could be followed up longer than 40 weeks (approximately 44 weeks after symptom’s relapse) were all still positive.
Highlights
After one year of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most addressed issues about SARS-CoV2 immunity is how long it will last
Some reports at the beginning of pandemics pointed out that up to 40% of asymptomatic cases could lose their antibodies after 6 weeks from acute infection [16], but our data don’t support that statement
More recent studies [3,7] demonstrate that durable serum antibodies would be granted by long-lived plasma cells
Summary
After one year of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most addressed issues about SARS-CoV2 immunity is how long it will last. The vast majority of COVID-19 cases both symptomatic and asymptomatic will develop either antibodies, cell immunity or both after contagion [1,2]. Evidence exists of SARS-COV-2 infection inducing long-lived bone marrow specific plasma cells even in mild cases [3], it’s not yet established whether infection or vaccination boosted immunity will last as long. The answers to this question would determine key issues such as the reliability of individual and herd immunity or the need of sanitary restrictions or periodical revaccination. The aim of this study was to determine how long total anti-SARS-CoV2 antibodies due to past infection persist in peripheral blood and whether sex, age or haematological features can influence their lasting
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