Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain recently announced that a serological survey will be conducted in the national capital every month. Recently, the government revealed the data for the serological survey conducted in Delhi between June 27 to July 10. The data showed that 22.86% people have antibodies for a viral disease while the remaining 77% of the population is still susceptible.
As the Sero Surveillance will be carried out every month, here’s everything you need to know about the serological survey and how it was carried out in the national capital.
What is a serological survey?
Serological tests are used to identify antibodies and antigens. The test identifies antibodies in the person’s immune system who has recovered from a disease. It can also be conducted to check if a person is immune to certain diseases. In a serological survey, such tests are being carried on a sample of the population. Such surveys are sometimes performed by random sampling.
How was the Serological Survey carried out in Delhi?
In Delhi, the tests were carried out by 160 four-member teams. Each team consisting of ASHA/Anganwadi worker, a pharmacist, an Auxillary Nurse Midwife (ANM) and a phlebotomist visited homes that were picked randomly by the district administration. During the last serological survey in Delhi, as many as 21,837 samples were collected.
What happens after serologic testing?
The care and treatment provided after serologic testing can vary. It often depends on whether antibodies were found. It may also depend on the nature of your immune response and its severity. An antibiotic or another type of medication may help your body fight the infection. Even if your results were normal, your doctor might order an additional test if they still think you might have an infection.
How does a serological survey help?
Knowing the actual extent of disease spread is critical for several reasons. It helps authorities make informed decisions about the interventions to be used to contain the disease. It also gives them a better understanding of how dangerous the virus is because a truer estimate of fatality rate and patients needing critical care can be reached.
