Sero-epidemiological Study of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus Responsible for COVID-19 in France

On January 2020, the discovery of a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was officially announced by the Chinese health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO). This new virus is presented as the causative agent of pneumonias. Its complete genome was sequenced by the laboratory of respiratory infection viruses at the Institut Pasteur on 29 January 2020 in France. This will allow the identification of antigenic structures involved in the immune response and the development of serological diagnostic tests.

Many questions are being asked about this new virus and the infection it causes, including questions about the transition from animal to human occur, the beginning of viral circulation in humans, the period of contagiousness, the percentage of asymptomatic and pauci-symptomatic forms. Serological studies can provide answers to these questions. There is no serological test for SARS-COV-2 yet, but the laboratory of respiratory infection viruses at the Institut Pasteur is working on its development.

This study proposes to carry out a collection of samples taken from subjects who travelled to China before the epidemic outbreak or suspected of being infected with SARS-CoV-2.

As soon as it is available, serology will be performed on the collected samples.

Inclusion criteria

• Affiliated with or benefiting from a Social Security system
• State of health compatible with a blood sample as defined in the protocol

Exclusion criteria

• Person benefiting from a legal protection measure or unable to express informed consent to participation
• Have had an infectious episode and/or respiratory signs in the 14 days prior to the scheduled visit (CORSER 1 and 2a, 2b)
• Have been in contact with a confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 infection within 14 days prior to the date of the visit.(CORSER 1 and 2a, 2b)