COVID-19 Pune: Second sero-survey to be conducted in city soon

Pune: The second sero-surveillance survey in Pune city will be conducted by BJ Medical College, Pune to test the extent to which group has developed coronavirus-fighting immunity. Samples will be taken from 500 health workers at Sassoon General Hospital.

The process of conducting the first sero-survey by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in collaboration with the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) is underway and its results will come by August 10.

Sero means blood and the detection of antibodies by a blood test is called ‘serological survey’ or ‘sero survey’. In this survey, specific groups are selected according to age and province. Blood samples are taken from coronary and non-coronary but asymptomatic citizens.

It looks for corona-fighting antibodies in the blood. If antibodies are found, then it is clear that the person has been transmitted with Coronavirus. It also provides information on how many antibodies have been developed in a particular group. A similar survey has already been conducted in Mumbai, Beed and Ahmednagar districts.

Savitribai Phule Pune University has been given the responsibility of the first sero-survey in Pune. "The survey, which is being conducted in five hotspots in the city, is in its final stages and will be completed by August 10," said the head of the Pune Municipal Corporation health department Dr  Ramchandra Hankare.

The Pune district administration has given the responsibility of conducting the second survey to BJ Medical College and Sassoon Hospital. The survey is being conducted by the microbiology department of and a total of 500 blood samples will be taken from the doctors, nurses and paramedical staff of the hospital. If the alarm goes up, it will be increased further. Prior to that, the hospital's ethics committee will be approved.

The second SERO survey will be limited to Sassoon Hospital as the hospital does not have enough staff to go out and take blood samples. The health system in the public health department will have to be consulted to go out and survey.