NOVA University Lisbon has the results of the first serological tests carried out on students, teachers, researchers, and non-academic staff.
Of the 1645 people tested, 48 had IgG antibodies to the SARS-COV-2 virus, that is, 2.9% had contact with the new coronavirus. It should be noted that, among the 1645, 243 tests were carried out on members of NOVA Medical School (NMS). Of these, which are considered to be the highest risk group, 6% have already been exposed to the virus.
Free and voluntary, serological tests were carried out between 15 and 30 June at different schools of NOVA, showing high levels of sensitivity and specificity.
These serological tests were developed by the NMS Center for the Study of Chronic Diseases (CEDOC), within the scope of the Serology4COVID Consortium, which joins CEDOC, NOVA Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology (ITQB NOVA), the Gulbenkian Institute of Science, the Institute of Molecular Medicine and the Institute of Experimental and Technological Biology (iBET).
The aim of this study was to assess exposure to the new coronavirus in the NOVA community to draw a more realistic and complete picture, so that new strategies can be implemented to control the spread of the disease and minimize its consequences for health, society and the economy.