New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has directed chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories (UT) to ensure implementation of district-level facility-based surveillance for Covid-19 through sero-survey.
A sero-survey involves testing of blood serum of a group of individuals to determine the presence of antibodies against that infection. The states have been asked to conduct surveillance by pooled sampling of 25.
Of the 69 districts identified in India, three are from Odisha.
Union health secretary Preeti Sudan has informed the states that district-level facility-based surveillance for Covid-19 guidelines have been uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India.
According to these guidelines, one-time pool sample of 25 is to be taken and tested only for surveillance purposes.
“We have received numerous queries in this regard. It is being clarified that the provision of pooled sample of 25 may be resorted to for surveillance of returnees, both migrant labour and from abroad. This may also be used for surveillance in Green zones,” Sudan clarified.
