Serological tests with a thousand volunteers have been underway for a month in the canton of St. Gallen. In particular, they must show how many coronavirus infections occur without symptoms of the disease.
The study is being carried out with employees from the cantonal health system, Keystone-ATS explained Pietro Vernazza, chief doctor of the infectious diseases department of the cantonal hospital of St. Welsh. He specified an interview published in the Linth-Zeitung on Saturday.
The study was planned six weeks ago already. The Covid-19 pandemic leaves open several questions that need to be answered. This is for example to see
how many people have been infected with the coronavirus without showing symptoms, how it spreads, what factors favor infection and what signs are observed by participants.
The study started a month ago. In five days, almost a thousand volunteers registered. Every two weeks, blood samples are collected. Participants also have to answer many questions.
Several test systems
The first findings should be available within a week, according to Pietro Vernazza. Several test systems are compared in order to obtain reliable results. “We will not publish the results until we are certain of their reliability,” said the infectious disease specialist.
TheFederal Office of Public Health (OFSP) coordinates this research work. A nationally representative study is in preparation. “We have the advantage of having launched the study more than a month ago and of having obtained the green light from the ethics committee,” adds Pietro Vernazza. (ats / nxp)
Created: 18.04.2020, 5:27 p.m.
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