Sero-Prevalence Study Conducted by Health Ministry in Delhi

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has commissioned a study based on sero-surveillance in Delhi. It has been conducted by the National Center for Disease Control in collaboration with the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi in a rigorous multi-stage sampling study design.

Highlights

The study, conducted between 27^th June and 10^th July 2020, was administered by teams formed for 11 districts of Delhi. Blood samples were collected from individuals with their contest and then their sera were tested for IgG antibodies and infection using COVID KAVACH ELISA approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research.

This is the largest study of its kind in the country using ELISA testing. A total of 21387 samples were collected during the course of the study and the tests done will help in identification of the presence of antibodies in the general population of the region. Though it is not a diagnostic test, this will provide information about past infection due to SARS-CoV-2 in individuals who test positive.

Antibody testing repeatedly done over time, known as sero-surveillance, generates important evidence for assessing the spread of the pandemic, from time to time. As per the results of the current study, the prevalence of antibodies is 23.48% in Delhi. The study has also mentioned that a lot of infected persons remained asymptomatic.

IgG Antibodies

It is a type of antibody representing approximately 75% of serum antibodies in humans. It is the most common type of antibody found in blood circulation and these molecules are created and released by Plasma B cells and each of these has two antigen-binding sites. This helps in building immunity in our body.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2020