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Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...ow/4923748.cms
Study to check doctors' blood for antibodies
Laxmi Birajdar, TNN 23 August 2009, 02:29am IST
PUNE: More than 300 doctors from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad gave their blood samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) on Saturday to check whether they have developed antibodies against the H1N1 virus. This is part of a risk-assessment study undertaken by the Pune chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the NIV to check exposure of different groups to the virus and whether doctors have developed antibodies.
"The NIV is collecting blood samples from us to see if we doctors have developed antibodies against the H1N1 virus because we are the first filter patients go through during diagnosis
and treatment. It's a serological assessment of doctors to the H1N1 flu, and information on antibodies is the main focus of this study," said Dilip Sarda, president of the IMA, Pune.
The reports will be available to the IMA members only after a week. "Once we get the reports, we will be preparing a database based on the information we receive. The NIV is planning to collect blood samples of at least 700 doctors in Pune and PCMC areas for this purpose, till Tuesday," Sarda said.
This blood sample test is happening as part of an epidemiological study. "It's basically a risk assessment study wherein we are trying to see how different groups, in this case, doctors, are exposed to the H1N1 virus while they treat patients," NIV director A C Mishra said.
It will take at least two months for the research to take shape, said Sarda. "We are insisting on NIV to take samples of up to 1,000 doctors, especially those who have heavy OPD work on a daily basis, because of which they come in contact with several patients."
Consulting physician Vilas Gundecha, who also gave a blood sample, said, "During the test, the doctors were asked questions on how many patients they diagnose on a daily basis, how many have been sent for H1N1 testing and the ICU doctors treating patients among other things."
Once they get details and start collating them, the blood sample test model can be replicated in other Indian cities as well, said Sarda.
Meanwhile, in order to counter the H1N1 flu, the IMA has been distributing the N95 masks among its members, along with three-layered cotton reusable masks that doctors can use during daily OPD treatments.
It usually requires four to six weeks for a person to develop immunity against the virus, consulting physician Vilas Gundecha told TOI on Saturday. "This is known as protection immunity. Basically, the H1N1 virus is a consortation strain derived from four different viruses, namely Euro-Asian swine, American swine, human influenza virus and the Avian flu virus. Pigs are the mixing vessel for the H1N1 virus, where the RNA materials of these four viruses get mixed up. Therefore, the disease is actually a swine-origin flu," Gundecha added.
Study to check doctors' blood for antibodies
Laxmi Birajdar, TNN 23 August 2009, 02:29am IST
PUNE: More than 300 doctors from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad gave their blood samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) on Saturday to check whether they have developed antibodies against the H1N1 virus. This is part of a risk-assessment study undertaken by the Pune chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the NIV to check exposure of different groups to the virus and whether doctors have developed antibodies.
"The NIV is collecting blood samples from us to see if we doctors have developed antibodies against the H1N1 virus because we are the first filter patients go through during diagnosis
and treatment. It's a serological assessment of doctors to the H1N1 flu, and information on antibodies is the main focus of this study," said Dilip Sarda, president of the IMA, Pune.
The reports will be available to the IMA members only after a week. "Once we get the reports, we will be preparing a database based on the information we receive. The NIV is planning to collect blood samples of at least 700 doctors in Pune and PCMC areas for this purpose, till Tuesday," Sarda said.
This blood sample test is happening as part of an epidemiological study. "It's basically a risk assessment study wherein we are trying to see how different groups, in this case, doctors, are exposed to the H1N1 virus while they treat patients," NIV director A C Mishra said.
It will take at least two months for the research to take shape, said Sarda. "We are insisting on NIV to take samples of up to 1,000 doctors, especially those who have heavy OPD work on a daily basis, because of which they come in contact with several patients."
Consulting physician Vilas Gundecha, who also gave a blood sample, said, "During the test, the doctors were asked questions on how many patients they diagnose on a daily basis, how many have been sent for H1N1 testing and the ICU doctors treating patients among other things."
Once they get details and start collating them, the blood sample test model can be replicated in other Indian cities as well, said Sarda.
Meanwhile, in order to counter the H1N1 flu, the IMA has been distributing the N95 masks among its members, along with three-layered cotton reusable masks that doctors can use during daily OPD treatments.
It usually requires four to six weeks for a person to develop immunity against the virus, consulting physician Vilas Gundecha told TOI on Saturday. "This is known as protection immunity. Basically, the H1N1 virus is a consortation strain derived from four different viruses, namely Euro-Asian swine, American swine, human influenza virus and the Avian flu virus. Pigs are the mixing vessel for the H1N1 virus, where the RNA materials of these four viruses get mixed up. Therefore, the disease is actually a swine-origin flu," Gundecha added.