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Published on: February 16, 2022
The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children - A resource for COVID-19 research: Antibody testing results,
Daniel Major-Smith1,2, Sarah Matthews1, Thomas Breeze1
1Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Insights
The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) conducted a second COVID-19 antibody test, finding significant generational differences in antibody prevalence. This study provides valuable serology data for understanding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) immunity in diverse populations.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a long-term cohort study following multiple generations.
- The study has previously collected data on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) through questionnaires and an initial antibody test.
- A second antibody test was conducted to assess COVID-19 immunity in April-June 2021.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on the findings of a second COVID-19 antibody test conducted within the ALSPAC cohort.
- To compare serological results between Generation 0 (G0) and Generation 1 (G1) participants.
- To provide updated COVID-19 serology data for research.
Main Methods:
- A second home-based antibody test was administered to 4,622 ALSPAC participants.
- Spike protein and nucleocapsid antibody tests were analyzed to determine vaccination or natural infection status.
- Results were compared to a previous antibody test from October 2020 and linked with other data sources.
Main Results:
- Of 4,241 participants with valid spike protein antibody tests, 74.8% were positive, indicating response to vaccination or infection.
- Generational differences were significant: 96.4% of G0 participants were positive versus 42.1% of G1 participants.
- Of 4,199 participants with valid nucleocapsid antibody tests, 11.7% were positive, suggesting natural infection, with higher positivity in G1 (14.6%) than G0 (9.8%).
Conclusions:
- Substantial generational disparities exist in COVID-19 antibody prevalence within the ALSPAC cohort.
- The study provides valuable serological data for understanding population immunity to COVID-19.
- These data will be combined with other sources to further elucidate infection and vaccination status.
Abstract:
The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a prospective population-based cohort which recruited pregnant women in 1990-1992 and has followed these women, their partners (Generation 0; G0) and their offspring (Generation 1; G1) ever since. The study reacted rapidly and repeatedly to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, deploying multiple online questionnaires and a previous home-based antibody test in October 2020. A second antibody test, in collaboration with ten other longitudinal population studies, was completed by 4,622 ALSPAC participants between April and June 2021. Of 4,241 participants with a valid spike protein antibody test result (8.2% were void), indicating antibody response to either COVID-19 vaccination or natural infection, 3,172 were positive (74.8%). Generational differences were substantial, with 2,463/2,555 G0 participants classified positive (96.4%) compared to 709/1,686 G1 participants (42.1%). Of 4,199 participants with a valid nucleocapsid antibody test result (9.2% were void), suggesting potential and recent natural infection, 493 were positive (11.7%); 248/2,526 G0 participants (9.8%) and 245/1,673 G1 participants (14.6%) tested positive, respectively. We also compare results for this round of testing to that undertaken in October 2020. Future work will combine these test results with additional sources of data to identify participants' COVID-19 infection and vaccination status. These ALSPAC COVID-19 serology data are being complemented with linkage to health records and Public Health England pillar testing results as they become available, in addition to four previous questionnaire waves and a prior antibody test. Data have been released as an update to the previous COVID-19 datasets. These comprise: 1) a standard dataset containing all participant responses to all four previous questionnaires with key sociodemographic factors; and 2) individual participant-specific release files enabling bespoke research across all areas supported by the study. This data note describes the second ALSPAC antibody test and the data obtained from it.
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