• Moritz Paar, Christoph Strumann, and Heinz Giesen.
• University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany. paarm@uni-muenster.de.
• Ir J Med Sci. 2022 Feb 1; 191 (1): 313731-37.

Key PointsIn our clinical cross-sectional study, we identified 107 of 347 patients who were tested positive for antibodies of novel Coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2). Main symptoms were exhaustion and cough, exposition to other COVID-19-patients appeared frequently.BackgroundThere is urgent need for information on predictive parameters on immunity and infectivity in Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Our aim was to investigate distribution of novel Coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in a German General Practice and to learn about possible predictive parameters regarding infection and pathways of transmission.MethodsIn our cross-sectional study, we tested 347 patients of our General Practice using 2019-nCoV-2-IgG/IgM antibody test [2019-nCoV2 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette (Ref.: INCP-402/INCP-402B; ACRO, BIOTECH, INC.)]. We asked for 13 specific symptoms and 4 questions to investigate patients' surroundings.ResultsA total of 107 of 347 patients were tested positive for antibodies (Immunoglobulin M-positive and/or Immunoglobulin G-positive). In antibody-positive group, body aches and rhinorrhea were seen more often and there were significantly less asymptomatic patients. Stay in area of risk was significantly more frequent in antibody-positive group as well as contact to infected persons. Distribution of other symptoms was not significantly different between both groups. Most adults or children with SARS-CoV-2 infection presented with mild flu-like symptoms.ConclusionA total of 30% of patients had antibodies. It was not possible to identify one solid predictive symptom. Serological testing may be helpful for the diagnosis of suspected patients with negative RT-PCR results and for the identification of asymptomatic infections.© 2021. Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.

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