Blood donor population and CoV-2 SARS studies: Epidemiology, natural history, human and social sciences and therapeutics – COVIDonneur

French blood donor population contribution to SARS-CoV-2 studies: epidemiology, natural history, human & social sciences and therapy



Acronym: COVIDonneur


This project addresses the topics "Epidemiological and translational studies" and "Ethics - Human and social sciences associated with response". It aims to provide a better understanding of the epidemic, the risks of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the risks for blood transfusion: transmission via blood products and supply disruption. By monitoring the population of blood donors, the project proposes (1) to estimate the number of asymptomatic forms and, among these, the existence of viremic forms, (2) to identify donors with high levels of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in order to supply a clinical trial for the treatment of patients with convalescent plasma and, (3) to understand the determinants of risk perception that enable the blood donor population to maintain the desire to donate blood and to remain mobilised in the context of a health crisis. The study project includes the following 4 WPs:

(WP1) A study of the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 will be performed in blood donor populations collected at different periods of the epidemic in geographical areas of interest. This study should contribute : (1) to identify the seroprevalence of the virus at different times, (2) to estimate the proportion of asymptomatic forms, (3) to characterise the immune response by estimating the proportion of people who have been infected (anti-N response) and who appear to be protected (anti-S response), and (4) from all this information to model the epidemic.

(WP2) The neutralising power of IgG anti SARS-CoV-2 detected in positive samples during WP1 will be titrated by seroneutralisation technique in order to propose a plasma donation to blood donors concerned and thus to contribute to the "antiCOVID19 hyper-immune plasma bank" that can be used in therapy.

(WP3) The existence of pre-symptomatic viremia will be investigated in donors reporting post-donation clinical signs suggestive of COVID-19 infection, by testing samples from previous donations stored in the transfusion biobanks.

(WP4) The impact of health measures on the behaviour of blood donors and the supply of blood products will be studied using quantitative and qualitative approaches which will make it possible to propose elements of communication accompanying the decision and the implementation of these measures.