Serosurveys for SARS-CoV-2: need of the hour

Abstract

This letter is regarding tackling the highly infectious coronavirus disease (COVID-19).Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread across the globe, causing a worldwide pandemic. The total number of cases across the globe is about 11.6 million with over 5 lakh deaths. The number of individuals detected is always less than the actual number of infected, in nearly all respiratory viral pandemics. Rapid Point-of-Care Antigen detection test can detect SARS-CoV-2 early in the field setting. It has moderate sensitivity and high specificity yet limited availability. This test can be employed in the hospitals and containment zones and would aid in contact tracing, isolation of the affected individuals, localized containment and directing quarantine measures. IgG antibodies usually appear after one week of onset of infection and may last for several months. Serosurveys that detect these antibodies using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) help in the assessment of asymptomatic infection in close contacts, enhance the current understanding of the spread of disease, individual’s immune status and in identifying potential plasma donors. Case fatality rate is positively associated with SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence as was demonstrated in the survey conducted in the Spanish population. Immuno-compromised patients, healthcare workers, relatively young working population comprising of bankers, media persons, individuals working at airports, overseas operations and industries, staff in municipal bodies, shopkeepers, vendors, courier services, telecommunication offices, drivers of hospital ambulances, hearse vans, buses, auto-rickshaw, taxies; bus conductors, farmers, electricity workers, migrant labourers who have travelled back from urban and peri-urban areas to rural/tribal; inhabitants of hard to reach areas, prisoners, densely populated regions of the country as well as natives after coming in contact with returned migrant; police and security personnel, those staying in institutional settings and hostels and inhabitants of containment zones should all be tested for the presence of antibodies against the virus.