ICMR to start 4th National Sero Survey
According to member of NITI Aayog, Dr VK Paul, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will start 4th national Covid-19 serosurvey.
Highlights
- He also urged states to roll out their own sero surveillances in order to assess spread of covid-19 pandemic.
- This will be the fourth serosurvey conducted by ICMR.
- It will be conducted in 70 districts across India.
- Children aged six years and above will be surveyed.
What is Sero Survey?
Sero survey is used to determine prevalence of coronavirus antibodies among community. In the survey, blood samples are tested for presence of IgG (Immunoglobulin G) antibodies. These antibodies determine a past coronavirus infection. IgG appear within two weeks of covid-19 infection. However, it is unclear how long antibodies detectably persist in body. Their presence indicates past exposure to virus and not its presence in the body. This facility-oriented surveillance is expansion of testing of flu and serious respiratory cases in hospitals which are being carried out by government.
Why Sero-testing is conducted?
Sero-survey is a more focused population-based survey of high and low -risk groups in select districts different then the routine testing. Sero survey helps government and its agencies to monitor Covid-19 trends and helps to check for community transmission.
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Month: Current Affairs - June, 2021