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. 2021 Jun;10(6):2363-2368.
doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2062_20. Epub 2021 Jul 2.

Population-based seropositivity for IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Ahmedabad city

Om Prakash  1 , Bhavin Solanki  2 , Jay Sheth  3 , Divyang Oza  4 , Mina Kadam  5 , Sheetal Vyas  3 , Aparajita Shukla  6 , Jayshri Pethani  7 , Hemant Tiwari  6
Affiliations

Population-based seropositivity for IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Ahmedabad city

Om Prakash et al. J Family Med Prim Care. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Context: Ahmedabad city with approximately 7 million population was one of the earliest cities to witness the high case load of COVID-19 pandemic in India. A population-based sero-survey was ideally suited in Ahmedabad to guide the public health response for managing COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: To study the percentage sero-positivity for SARS-CoV-2 to understand the pandemic status and deriving conclusions for guiding the public health measures for managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Settings and design: Population-based cross-sectional sero-surveillance.

Methods and material: Large scale sero-surveillance with population-based stratified sampling covering more than 10,000 samples from general population of Ahmedabad was carried out during second half of August 2020. The seropositivity was correlated and compared with various demographic factors and other parameters for valid and precise predictions on the immunity status of the population.

Results: With 2,396 samples positive for IgG antibodies from a total of 10,310 samples, the seropositivity against COVID-19 in the general population of Ahmedabad is around 23.24%. The seropositivity has increasing trend with increasing age and is significantly higher among females (25.37%) than males (21.81%). The zone wise positivity ranged from 11.74% to 33.14%. This closely correlates with the cases recorded so far, higher for those zones with high current or past cases.

Conclusions: Seropositivity of 23.24% in general population indicate the overall current level of protection. Since effective vaccine is not yet available, it is required to continue emphasis on the public health preventive measures for controlling and managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: Antibodies; COVID-19; SARS-COV-2; Sero-surveillance; immunity.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sex wise seropositivity among general population
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age group wise seropositivity in general population
Figure 3
Figure 3
Age group and sex wise seropositivity in general population
Figure 4
Figure 4
Zone wise comparison of cases and seropositivity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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