Analysis of 52 240 source plasma donors of convalescent COVID-19 plasma: Sex, ethnicity, and age association with initial antibody levels and rate of dissipation

J Clin Apher. 2022 Oct;37(5):449-459. doi: 10.1002/jca.21998. Epub 2022 Jul 11.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) was approved under emergency authorization to treat critically ill patients with COVID-19 in the United States in 2020. We explored the demographics of donors contributing plasma for a hyperimmune, plasma-derived therapy to evaluate factors that may be associated with anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response variability and, subsequently, antibody titers.

Study design: An electronic search of CCP donors was performed across 282 US plasma donation centers. Donations were screened for nucleocapsid protein-binding-IgG using the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay.

Results: Overall, 52 240 donors donated 418 046 units of CCP. Donors were of various ethnicities: 43% Caucasian, 34% Hispanic, 17% African American, 2% Native American, 1% Asian, and 3% other. Females had higher initial mean anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers but an overall faster rate of decline (P < .0001). Initial antibody titers increased with age: individuals aged 55 to 66 years had elevated anti-SARS-CoV-2 titers for longer periods compared with other ages (P = .0004). African American donors had the lowest initial antibody titers but a slower rate of decline (P < .0001), while Caucasian (P = .0088) and Hispanic (P = .0193) groups had the fastest rates of decline. Most donor antibody levels decreased below the inclusion criteria (≥1.50) within 30 to 100 days of first donation, but donation frequency did not appear to be associated with rate of decline.

Conclusion: Several factors may be associated with anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response including donor age and sex. Evaluating these factors during development of future hyperimmune globulin products may help generation of therapies with optimal efficacy.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; convalescent COVID-19 plasma; hyperimmune globulins; plasma donor demographics.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Blood Donors
  • COVID-19 Serotherapy
  • COVID-19* / therapy
  • Ethnicity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Passive
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Middle Aged
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins
  • SARS-CoV-2*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins

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