Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Blood test
Blood test bestravelvideo DepositPhotos Deposit Photos
Health
Coronavirus
Covid-19
Sanquin
Ministry of Public Health Welfare and Sports
Wantai
Hugo de Jonge
coronavirus envoy
Feike Sijbesma
antibodies
herd immunity
Wednesday, May 6, 2020 - 10:15
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Dutch blood bank to test a million people for coronavirus

Sanquin ordered a million new test kits to test for coronavirus antibodies in blood- and plasma donors, the Dutch blood bank announced after a working visit from Minister Hugo de Jonge of Public Health and coronavirus envoy Feike Sijbesma on Tuesday. The tests produced by Chinese company Wantai were ordered by Sanquin, paid for by the Ministry of Public Health, and are available immediately, a Sanquin spokesperson confirmed to Nu.nl reports.

Sanquin is currently working with health institute RIVM to investigate the spread of the coronavirus, and the Dutch population's immunity against it. Last month the blood bank released the preliminary results of the first study of 7,500 donors. It showed that 3 percent of the Dutch population had antibodies against Covid-19, which means they had been infected with the coronavirus.

The first half of Snaquin's research showed that the Wantai tests produced good results, the organization said. These tests are extra useful because they can detect three different antibodies. 

Sanquin will repeat the antibody tests on blood and plasma donors on a regular basis, to track the spread of the coronavirus and the immunity against it in the Netherlands. Next week 7,500 donors will be tested, the spokesperson said to NU.nl. Sanquin can scale up the number of antibody tests to 10 thousand tests per day if necessary, he said. 

"This is a repeat study. There are no conclusive agreements about how long it will continue. For the time being, we will keep going until it is no longer necessary," the spokesperson said. The 1 million new tests will allow the organization to test for "months ahead", he said. 

We hebben testkits aangeschaft, waarmee we een miljoen serologische testen kunnen uitvoeren. Hiermee kunnen we bevolkingsonderzoek doen, om inzicht te krijgen in hoe het #coronavirus zich verspreidt en hoe antistoffen zich ontwikkelen 👉https://t.co/pyHj7CSJNF @sanquin @rivm pic.twitter.com/fmpeXF7m5y

— Hugo de Jonge (@hugodejonge) May 5, 2020

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Quarter of the population downloaded CoronaMelder
  • Gov't expands fixed costs support for struggling companies
  • RIVM stocks up on 840 thousand extra flu vaccines
  • Solar parks become more popular as green energy rises by 40 percent
  • Nearly 50K more Covid vaccines administered; Infection average rises again
  • €600 million in cocaine headed to one Dutch address caught in busts

Top Stories

  • Nearly 50K more Covid vaccines administered; Infection average rises again
  • €600 million in cocaine headed to one Dutch address caught in busts
  • All primary school teachers to be tested for Covid: report
  • AstraZeneca says it will deliver vaccines as promised, also to NL
  • Experts critical about lockdown relaxations; Students, retailers disappointed
  • AstraZeneca vaccine deliveries through June likely 50% lower than thought: Report

© 2012-2021 NLTimes.nl, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact