Covid-19: Sero survey launched in 9 Assam districts

GUWAHATI: A sero survey has been launched in nine districts of Assam to understand the extent of spread of Covid-19. The survey will help the government plug the cases that might have been missed during the currently applied testing strategy and method.
A serological survey advised by the ICMR seeks to assess the prevalence of the disease in a population by detecting the presence of specific antibodies against the virus. The ICMR has advised states to conduct a sero-survey to measure the exposure to the coronavirus in the population using IgG Elisa Test (antibody test).
IgG Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test estimates the proportion of the population exposed to SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) infection. The survey will cover nine districts ranging low to high risk vulnerability including Kamrup (Metro) that covers Guwahati city.
In its effort to map and understand the spread of coronavirus in the state, Srijanasom — a non-government organisation working for the promotion of Indian art, culture, education as well as accessible and affordable health care for all — has launched the serological survey in Assam. Srijanasom, in association with Medicity Guwahati Group of Clinic & Diagnostics launched the project “Aasha – Assessment of Anti-SARSCoV2 Seroprevalence in Habitants of Assam: a population based cross sectional study” at Medicity Guwahati Aditya in the presence of Assam junior health minister Pijush Hazarika, mission director of National Health Mission (NHM), Assam, Lakshmanan S and IRS officer from Assam, Padmapani Bora, who has been instrumental in carrying out the study.
"A serological test is performed to diagnose infections and autoimmune illnesses. It can also be conducted to check if a person has developed immunity to certain diseases,” said Hazarika.
He said despite the infrastructural bottleneck and concomitant floods in the state, Assam has been doing well in containing the infection. “The need of the hour today is a seroprevalence study that would identify the proportion of people carrying the antibodies against this virus,” Hazarika added.
Population-based serosurveys measuring anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (anti-SARS-CoV-2) antibodies provide one method for estimating infection rates and monitoring the progression of the epidemic.
The serological survey study is being conducted according to ICMR guidelines on such a large scale and the institutional ethics committee of Assam DownTown University has granted ethical clearance to the proposed study.
It further stated that NHM, Assam, has also given its concurrence to the proposed study, which are being carried out in Delhi and Maharashtra.
Mridusmita Das, managing trustee and CEO of Srijanasom, said, “This opportunity might be utilised for raising awareness about plasma donation by the recovered people.”
The survey study is being carried out in association with the Medicity Group of Clinics & Diagnostics, Guwahati, which will provide assistance in sample collection and laboratory testing. Study analysis will be carried out under supervision of Dr Jyotismita Pathak, MD, Community Medicine and assistant professor at Army Medical College, New Delhi.
IRS officer Padmapani Bora, who has been instrumental in carrying out this study, said, “The study will help in taking further specific containment measures against Covid-19.”