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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04643444

Police COVID-19 Serosurvey

The investigators aim to determine the immune status of the employees of the cantonal police of Bern against SARS-CoV-2 over a period of 1 year, and to investigate the risk profile of the study participants and their risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in their working and private environments, as well as to evaluate the use of personal protective equipment at potential exposure instances.

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Key information

Conditions

Sars-CoV-2 Infection COVID-19 Coronaviridae Infections Coronavirus Infections Healthy Infections Lung Diseases Nidovirales Infections Pneumonia Pneumonia, Viral RNA Virus Infections Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections Virus Diseases Volunteers

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Bern, Institute for Infectious Diseases

Bern, Canton of Bern, 3010, Switzerland

About this study

i) To determine the extent of infection with seroprevalence data in the special population of police officers of the canton Bern.

ii) To determine risk factors for infection by comparing the proportion of seropositivity (infected versus noninfected individuals). The investigators hypothesize that police officers with fieldwork activity will have a higher seroprevalence than will office and administration personnel. The investigators hypothesize that working in the city of Bern will be associated with a higher seroprevalence than will working in other geographic areas of the canton (i.e. rural area).

iii) To monitor COVID-19 antibody titres and neutralizing capacity over time and to associate them with reinfection rates and infection-free intervals in police officers after accidental contact with a proven COVID-19 case. The investigators hypothesize that in seropositive individuals, there will be a decreasing dynamic of antibody titres over the one-year study period, and hence, a decrease of neutralizing capacity.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Police officers of the cantonal police of Bern volunteering to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • Refusal or inability to give informed consent or contraindication to venepuncture.

Treatment and study plan

Blood sampling

Diagnostic Test

Testing for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies

Online Questionnaire

Other

Questions on working place, risk profiles and PPE

Primary outcomes

  1. Seroprevalence

    Time frame: One year

    The variable of primary interest is COVID-19 seropositivity. This variable is measured at five time points over the one-year study period. The following baseline factors may have an influence on the primary endpoint and will be obtained: (i) pre-existing comorbidities, (ii) rural versus city distribution of working place, and (iii) office work versus field work.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Risk profile assessment

    Time frame: One year

    The investigators will assess the proportion of symptomatic and asymptomatic cases among seropositive participants. The investigators will calculate the attack rate in different subgroup. These include (i) study participants with health-related risk factors (age>50 and age>60 years, diabetes, arterial hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary disease, immune-compromised status due to host diseases, medical treatment, cancer, obesity), (ii) activity-related subgroups (i.e. fieldwork vs office activity), (iii) geography-related subgroups (i.e. city vs rural areas). In follow-up visits, the antibody titers (i.e. dynamic) and the neutralization capacity will be assessed. Thereby, the investigators will determine the change in serum levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies over time in seropositive participants.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Bern

Other

Collaborators

  • Interregionale Blutspende SRK Bern

Registry information

Official study title

Police Officer COVID-19 Seroprevalence Survey in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland

Acronym: PoliCOV

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Nov 25, 2020
Registry last updated
Nov 21, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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