The immune system produces antibodies that circulate in the blood in response to a SARS-CoV-2 infection. The seroprevalence of these antibodies indicates what percentage of the population has already been infected with SARS CoV-2. The HZI project MuSPAD (Multi-local and Serial cross-sectional Prevalence Study on Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Germany), headed by Prof Gérard Krause, head of the Department of Epidemiology at the HZI, therefore invites test persons contacted by mail from the city and district of Osnabrück to participate in the study. Approximately 3000 volunteers give blood samples to be tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. The subjects of the study are selected and invited at random. Voluntary participation without prior invitation is unfortunately not possible in order to ensure the representativeness of the study.
Osnabrück is the first stop in Northern Germany for the study after the previous study locations of Reutlingen, Freiburg and Aachen. Alongside the start of the studies in Osnabrück, the study will also return to Reutlingen in mid-October. Selected subjects who were already sampled in the first investigation period in July will be re-examined there. This is how the researchers determine the development of the pandemic in Germany.
Press Release from the health service of the city and district Osnabrück:
https://corona-os.de/node/223
More information you can find here:
digital press kit of the study
