Testing Dutch immunity

The Dutch Blood Bank Sanquin is going to test blooddonors on antibodies against Covid-19 with an Elisatest
That means they have created small particles of replica virus which will be brought together with blood. If the blood contains antibodies they stick to the fake virusparticles.

So it's a rather easy and quick test.
As 10.000 people per weekdonate their blood, all over the country,  a good representative result can be obtained in a short time.
The first results are expected between 2 and 4 weeks from now.

Not only can this researchproject show how many have developed antibodies, it can also show, when repeated, the development of immunity in the population.

Assuming that people with antibodies can't be infected again and can't infect others, this means people can go to work earlier and they can support the high risk group.

It will also give information of herd immunity, one of the researchers, Hans Zaaijer, states.

Permission has been given by 99% of the donors.
The researchers prefer plasmadonors, as they visit the bloodbank more often and can be tested at more regular intervals, so the development of immunity can be studied better.

Excluded from the research project are people who show symptoms, like a cough, cold, or fever.
As results are anonymised, individual persons who want to be tested won't be accepted.