PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Thomas Waterfield
AU  - Chris Watson
AU  - Rebecca Moore
AU  - Kathryn Ferris
AU  - Claire Tonry
AU  - Alison Watt
AU  - Claire McGinn
AU  - Steven Foster
AU  - Jennifer Evans
AU  - Mark David Lyttle
AU  - Shazaad Ahmad
AU  - Shamez Ladhani
AU  - Michael Corr
AU  - Lisa McFetridge
AU  - Hannah Mitchell
AU  - Kevin Brown
AU  - Gayatri Amirthalingam
AU  - Julie-Ann Maney
AU  - Sharon Christie
TI  - Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children: a prospective multicentre cohort study
AID  - 10.1136/archdischild-2020-320558
DP  - 2021 Jul 01
TA  - Archives of Disease in Childhood
PG  - 680--686
VI  - 106
IP  - 7
4099  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/106/7/680.short
4100  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/106/7/680.full
SO  - Arch Dis Child2021 Jul 01; 106
AB  - Background Studies based on molecular testing of oral/nasal swabs underestimate SARS-CoV-2 infection due to issues with test sensitivity, test timing and selection bias. The objective of this study was to report the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, consistent with previous infection.Design This multicentre observational cohort study, conducted between 16 April to 3 July 2020 at 5 UK sites, recruited children of healthcare workers, aged 2–15 years. Participants provided blood samples for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing and data were gathered regarding unwell contacts and symptoms.Results 1007 participants were enrolled, and 992 were included in the final analysis. The median age of participants was 10·1 years. There were 68 (6.9%) participants with positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests indicative of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of these, 34/68 (50%) reported no symptoms prior to testing. The presence of antibodies and the mean antibody titre was not influenced by age. Following multivariable analysis four independent variables were identified as significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity: known infected household contact OR=10.9 (95% CI 6.1 to 19.6); fatigue OR=16.8 (95% CI 5.5 to 51.9); gastrointestinal symptoms OR=6.6 (95% CI 3.0 to 13.8); and changes in sense of smell or taste OR=10.0 (95% CI 2.4 to 11.4).Discussion Children demonstrated similar antibody titres in response to SARS-CoV-2 irrespective of age. Fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms and changes in sense of smell or taste were the symptoms most strongly associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity.Trial registration number NCT0434740.Data are available in a public, open access repository. All of the individual participant data collected during this study will be available (including data dictionaries) on the Queen’s University Belfast database within 3 months of completion of the study.