Blood donors from the adult population of Quebec have contracted COVID-19 – Vingt55

GAPS BETWEEN REGIONS

Without too many surprises, the highest rates were observed in the Montreal and Laval regions, at 3.05%.

The study also shows that Mauricie-Center-du Québec, which had a reported COVID-19 rate three times lower than in Montreal or Laval, nevertheless had an almost identical seroprevalence of 2.96%.

As for the rest of Quebec (excluding Montreal and its region), seroprevalence was found to be much lower, standing at 1.29%.

In order to have a good reflection of the proportion of the population of Quebec having developed antibodies against the COVID-19 virus, the study participants were sampled from 12 of the 18 health regions. For the 6 other regions, they are not included because there was no blood collection during the recruitment period. Blood donors have thus formed a representative group of the general population. Héma-Québec had the capacity to carry out such a study, due to the fact that it already systematically takes blood samples from each blood donation and has laboratories and the expertise to carry out these tests.

The 173 donors who have detected antibodies will be contacted to document their symptoms, as well as the possible source of the infection. An equivalent number of donors for whom the test result is negative will also be questioned. This process will make it possible to estimate the proportion of infected people who have remained asymptomatic (results to come).

Finally, in order to continue monitoring the evolution of COVID-19 in the Quebec population, the study may be repeated at regular intervals until the end of the pandemic.

About Héma-Québec
Héma-Québec’s mission is to respond efficiently to the needs of the Quebec population for blood and other quality biological products of human origin. Héma-Québec has more than 1,300 employees, nearly 225,000 donors of blood, stem cells, breast milk and human tissues, in addition to thousands of volunteers at blood collection sites. Héma-Québec annually delivers nearly 750,000 biological products of human origin to hospitals in Quebec to meet the needs of patients.
Donate blood. Give life.

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