Health Protection Agency (HPA) has resumed sample collection for the seroprevalence study launched in the Male’ Region, following a break of two days.
HPA stated sample collection will resume on October 31 for individuals selected for the study. HPA requested the selected individuals to provide their cooperation in collecting samples and carrying out the study.
The seroprevalence study aims to identify the percentage of people in the community who have had past exposure to the virus and recovered. As such, the study aims to determine how much the community has been exposed to the virus, and identify the level of immunity among individuals.
The antibody testing under the seroprevalence study is being done collectively by HPA and Maldives National University (MNU). During the first round of the study, blood samples were obtained from children under the age of 18. The study is currently in its second round, with blood samples taken from selected individuals who are notified via text message.
Four locations have been allocated in the Greater Male’ Region to obtain samples for the study. As such, sampling is carried out in the MNU Faculty of Health Sciences and Faculty of Education in Male’, as well as Hulhumale’ Gems Preschool and Villimale’ Hospital. Sampling is carried out every day from 1600hrs to 1900hrs.