FAQ - FREQUENTly asked QUESTIONS
TEST RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION
In addition to the explanations of tests, test results and their interpretation below, you can find short videos, prepared by the Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), on various topics related to coronavirus here.
What is tested?
We only test for antibodies in the blood, i.e. signs of whether an infection with the coronavirus has already taken place at some time before the blood sampling . We can detect the antibodies 5-7 days after an infection at the earliest, sometimes even later, depending on which antibodies are tested. We do not test whether a person is currently infected with the coronavirus.
Which antibody tests are used?
We use the so-called ABCORA 2.3 test established at the Institute of Medical Virology at the University of Zurich (ABCORA) and the SenASTrIS test (Sensitive Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike Trimer Immunoglobulin Serological) from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and the Swiss Immunization Center to test for antibodies in the blood. The latter test is used throughout Switzerland as part of the Corona Immunitas research program.
The antibody test is positive. What does this result mean?
If antibodies to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) are present in the blood, it most likely means that an infection with the virus has occurred at some time prior to the blood draw. The result does not mean that you were/your child was infected with coronavirus at the time the blood was drawn. Since we have already performed the test several weeks ago when the result is announced, the likelihood that your child or you as a study participant (parents and/or school personnel) are still currently infectious is very low. Therefore, based on the result of the antibody test, there is no need to quarantine yourself. It is important to note that there is no perfect test. Among all blood samples that we analyze as part of Ciao Corona, there are always a certain number of samples that are tested falsely positive.
The antibody test is positive. Should I still get vaccinated?
A positive antibody test indicates a past coronavirus infection. The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) also recommends vaccination for people who have already been infected with coronavirus. For children and adolescents, there is no approved vaccination in Switzerland yet (as of April 27, 2021). Please visit the website of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), to get the latest information on vaccination.
The antibody test is positive, although you / your child never had any symptoms. What does this mean?
Numerous infections with the novel coronavirus are completely asymptomatic, that means without occurrence of any symptoms. This is especially the case in children and adolescents. It is therefore possible that you or your child have already been affected by the virus completely unnoticed.
Is my child/am I contagious if the antibody test was positive?
The antibodies are detectable in the blood about 5-7 days after the onset of infection. Since we have already performed the test a few weeks ago when the result is announced, the probability that your child or you are currently still infectious is very low. Please continue to protect yourself and others from infection regardless of the test result.
Is my child/am I now protected against re-infection with coronavirus?
At present, it is not yet clear whether and for how long an adult/child is protected by the antibodies in the blood against re-infection with the coronavirus. A re-infection with the coronavirus occurs rather rarely, but is not impossible . According to current knowledge, it seems likely that at least temporary immunity is present. However, exact research results are not yet available. First data show that the protective antibodies can be lost within months. However, our body has additional defense mechanisms and builds up protection via so-called memory cells (T cells). A brief explanation of the function of memory cells can be found here.
The antibody test is negative. What does this result mean?
A negative test result means that it is very unlikely that the person tested has been infected with coronavirus by the time of the blood sampling. Unfortunately, a negative test result does not protect anyone from coronavirus infection in the future. Please continue to protect your child or yourself from a coronavirus infection.
The antibody test was positive in a previous test phase and is currently negative. What does this result mean?
Loss of antibodies after coronavirus infection is well known. It is therefore possible that you/your child had a positive antibody test in a previous testing phase, but the most current test turned out negative. However, based on current knowledge, we assume that a person is protected for a longer period of time after natural infection with coronavirus at the level of memory cells (so-called T cells/B cells). A brief explanation of the function of memory cells can be found here.
However, it is not yet fully known how long this protection lasts. This depends, among other things, on the severity of the past infection. In addition, it should be noted that with the large number of tests we perform as part of phased the study, some tests also turn out to be false positives.
How accurate are the antibody tests?
SenASTrIS: This test achieves a sensitivity (percentage of true positives) of 96.6% and a specificity (percentage of true negatives) of 99.2% to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection by immunoglobulin IgG. If IgG and immunoglobulin IgA are analyzed in combination, the sensitivity is almost 100% and the specificity is 98.4%.
Further information on the SenASTrIs test can be found here.
ABCORA: The ABCORA test (version 2.3) provides a highly differentiated picture of the immune response, analyzing 12 different blood parameters. In a validation study (unpublished), the test had a sensitivity (proportion of true positives) of 93.3 - 95.2 % and a specificity (proportion of true negatives) of 98.4 - 99.6 % (depending on the threshold definition of positive and negative cases).
Consequently, we have the possibility to rely on well-validated tests. Nevertheless, no test is perfect and in individual cases there may be false positive or false negative results. This must always be taken into account.
COMMUNICATION OF THE RESULTS
When will I know the test result of the last testing in March/April 2021?
We make every effort to communicate the test results to you as promptly as possible. Even in the first test phase, there were several thousand blood samples to be analyzed. It is very important to us that we announce the results of all participants at the same time. Such a large project requires various quality controls, including the checking of the data provided in the online questionnaire for correctness. Please understand that this process may take some time.
How will I be informed about the test result?
The result of the antibody test will be communicated to you by e-mail. Please note that we rely on the contact details you provide in the online questionnaire to communicate the individual results. If we do not have your e-mail address or the e-mail address is incorrect, it is unfortunately not possible to communicate the test results. If you have not received a result from us approximately 8 weeks after the tests at the school, please contact us via our study e-mail or the telephone hotlines (Hotline 1 or Hotline 2). We will be happy to help you.
Will I be notified of the test result after each testing round?
Yes, you will receive this information after all measurements. In addition, we regularly provide a summary of our study results on our website.
It has been several months since the last testing and I have not received any results yet. What could be the reason for this?
Generally, you should have received the test results by e-mail no later than 8 weeks after the end of the testing round. However, we can only communicate the results if you have completed the online questionnaire and your e-mail address provided in it does not contain any spelling errors. Unfortunately, we have limited resources to check the correctness of individual email addresses. We will correct obvious spelling errors. Please also check your spam folder regularly. If no e-mail from us has landed there either, please contact us so that we can correct the problem.
Why does it take several weeks for the results to be communicated?
The organization and implementation of such a large-scale study require a lot of time. In the last test phase in March/April 2021, approximately 2,500 children and 2,500 adults participated. This also means an immense amount of work for the laboratories, as they also receive blood samples from other studies from all over Switzerland for evaluation. In addition, we also have to check the entries in the online questionnaires so that the results can be communicated correctly. Out of fairness, it is of great importance to us to announce all results of one group (i.e., children, parents and school staff) at the same time. We thank you for your understanding and patience.
FURTHER TESTING
Can other family members or acquaintances also be tested in this context?
Study-specific testing is limited to parents/legal guardians of the participating child/children and school personnel at the selected schools. Testing additional family members would unfortunately exceed our resources.
Can children participate whose class was not selected?
Unfortunately, we cannot include additional children in the study. The participating schools and classes were randomly selected, so for scientific reasons we cannot additionally include individual children from different classes.
QUESTIONNAIRE
I would like to fill out the online questionnaire, where can I find it?
You should have received instructions and access data for completing the online questionnaire in the documents together with the study information. If you have not received such instructions, please contact us by e-mail or call the hotlines (Hotline 1 or Hotline 2).
Why are there personal questions in the online questionnaire that have nothing to do with the coronavirus (e.g., how long does a child play on the computer?)?
The Ciao Corona study is part of the Swiss-wide research program Corona Immunitas. The participating researchers in Switzerland would like to gain insights into the effects of this unique Corona period with many drastic measures on lifestyle and quality of life. For these reasons, as researchers of the Ciao Corona study, we have decided to support the Swiss-wide research program and to include these questions in the various studies. Furthermore, it is quite possible that this Corona period has or will continue to have an impact on various aspects of lifestyle.
Why are there additional questionnaires between the individual testing rounds?
The results from these questionnaires are essential for us to be able to evaluate, interpret and understand the results of the blood tests accurately. Therefore, every two months until the end of the study in spring 2021, we will ask you as parents, school staff or principals to complete a short online questionnaire with questions regarding COVID-like symptoms, hygiene measures, antibody and virus tests.
TEST PROGRESS
How much blood will be drawn from my child/my body?
We take 1 tube of blood per study visit. This maximum of 9mL corresponds to about one tablespoon. A child has a total of at least 3-4 liters of blood, an adult person about 4.5-6 liters.
Can I be present when my child's blood is drawn?
Yes, a parent can be present during the blood collection to support the child. However, this must be discussed in advance with the school administration. It is best to contact your child's school to find out at what time your child's testing is scheduled for.
What hygiene measures apply during testing?
Study personnel will pay close attention to on-site hygiene. All personnel will wear face masks; blood collection personnel and sputum collection personnel will wear gloves. These are, of course, always changed. The children and all staff repeatedly disinfect their hands during individual tests.
How long does the adult testing take?
We try to keep the testing as short as possible. Basically, you can expect about 5-10 minutes per person, which of course also depends on the number of participants on site and whether questionnaires still must be filled out online.
Are children missing out on important instructional time by participating in the study?
We do our best to ensure that we disrupt the lessons as little as possible and adapt to the school's specifications as best we can. The tests themselves do not take long (about 20 minutes per child), so there is little disruption to the class overall.
How will my child benefit from participating?
It can be an important experience to be able to participate in a large university study while still a child. By engaging with the content of the study, children become aware of important things about the coronavirus. In addition, the children can be proud to have made a personal contribution to science. Last but not least, probably the greatest pride is to have succeeded in having the blood sample taken. This is a very important experience that the children will not forget.
April 28, 2021