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Introduction: A high priority for study during the pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 is the safety at work of hospital staff taking care of COVID-19 patients. The authors decided to analyze the results of opportunistic screening for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among employees of a COVID-19-dedicated centre.

Objectives: The authors aimed to investigate if potential exposition to SARS-CoV-2 antigens is reflected in the results of serological studies.

Patients and methods: Every employee who took at least one test between 21st April and 20th July was included in the study. Every test assessed levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M+ A (IgM+ IgA). Employees were divided in terms of having contact with COVID-19 patients and participating in aerosol-generating procedures.

Results: Results of 2455 tests taken by 1572 persons were analyzed. 357 (22.7%) participants had at least one positive or equivocal result during the observation period. Linear mixed models revealed gradual increases in mean levels of both IgG and IgM+ IgA antibodies among employees with all negative results. The rate of change was higher among persons having direct contact with COVID-19 patients and the highest rate of change was observed among person participating in aerosol-generating procedures.

Conclusions: We detected developing humoral immune response to a new set of antigens of coronavirus among studied group. It is possible that employees of COVID-19-dedicated centres have regular contact with non-infectious amounts of SARS-CoV-2 or its antigens.