Two serological studies in Central Catalonia evaluate the immunity of COVID-19 among primary care professionals
The ICS Research Support Unit in Central Catalonia, IDIAP Jordi Gol, the Daniel Bravo Andreu Private Foundation and the Barcelona Global Health Institute collaborate together.
Ariadna Creus i Àngel García / Banc d'imatges infermeres
Two serological studies evaluate the immunity of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus among primary care professionals in the territory. The SERO CATCentral and COVID CATCentral studies have the collaboration of IDIAP Jordi Gol, the Research Support Unit of the Catalan Institute of Health, the Barcelona Global Health Institute and the Daniel Bravo Andreu Private Foundation. They are planned as an ambitious research project, which will serve as the basis for designing future immune protection strategies against the SARS-CoV-2 conavirus.
The studies want to contribute to generating knowledge about the virus from primary care. Currently, it is known that the immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus with antibody generation is observed, in most affected individuals, within 10-15 days after the appearance of COVID-19 symptoms. However, due to the recent appearance of this virus in the human population, it is not yet known how long these antibodies will remain or if they will provide protection against reinfection. Little is known, too, about the role that cellular immunity plays against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
Objectives of the study
The project researchers, Anna Ramírez and Anna Ruiz Comellas, explain that the studies aim to assess cellular immunity and characterize the profile of specific antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus antigens in prospectively collected blood samples. for 12 months and that will allow to analyze the kinetics, magnitude and durability in relation to the symptoms presented during the infection.
Metodology
The SERO CATCentral is a longitudinal, prospective, one-year follow-up study. It is planned to study more than 1,200 health professionals in Central Catalonia from the fields of primary, hospital and residential care with positive serology for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Demographic and clinical variables will be related to the serological results of three blood samples collected every six months.
The COVID CATCentral is a longitudinal, prospective, one-year follow-up study. 175 professionals from the primary care health field with positive PCR results for SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus will be studied in detail during the period from March 10 to April 10. Demographic and clinical characteristics will be related to monthly serological results and cellular immunity every four months.
The head of the Research Support Unit of the Catalan Health Institute, Josep Vidal, considers that “the collaboration of primary care in the field of research is essential to achieve global results in science and prevention of health, not only in the pandemic situation that we are suffering, but also in other existing pathologies or that may exist ”.
Tags: Recerca, atenció primària, Covid-19
