Health dept to conduct sero-survey using CLIA method and ELISA kits

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has advised states to conduct sero-survey to measure COVID-19 exposure in the general population using IgG ELISA Tests. The State Health Department has now granted permission to the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine to conduct the survey using the CLIA method. This will help analyse the exposure of the virus based on immune response and affinity of antibodies present in the bodies of individuals who will participate in the survey.

Senior officials from the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine said that 24,000 samples will be considered for the survey across the State, while another sero-survey study by Greater Chennai Corporation will have 6,000 sample size using CLIA method. The survey will be conducted in several specific areas of Chennai with 2,000 samples using IgG ELISA kits.

ELISA kits validated by ICMR will be used to conduct the survey and the results will be later compared to the CLIA method to check the efficacy of the method to monitor the trend in the State. Based on the results, Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC) will procure CLIA kits and ELISA kits. The officials from TNMSC said that 30,000 CLIA kits and 2,000 IgG ELISA kits will be procured to conduct the survey in TN.