seroepidemiological

Seroepidemiology refers to the study of the distribution and determinants of disease within a population by measuring the presence or absence of specific antibodies in blood serum. It uses serological data to infer past infection or immunity and complements traditional surveillance based on diagnosed clinical cases.

Methods involve collecting serum samples from representative or targeted populations and testing for antibodies against pathogens of interest using assays such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescent assays, or neutralization tests. Results are used to estimate seroprevalence, the proportion of individuals with detectable antibodies, and seroconversion or seroincidence in longitudinal studies. Analyses typically account for test sensitivity, specificity, and potential cross-reactivity to improve accuracy.

Applications include gauging population exposure, estimating cumulative incidence, and informing vaccination strategies and assessments of herd immunity. Seroprevalence data can reveal disparities by age, sex, geography, or risk group, and help model disease transmission dynamics and intervention effects. Notable uses include HIV, hepatitis B and C, dengue, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2 serosurveys.

Limitations encompass antibody waning over time, which can underestimate prior infection; vaccination or maternal antibodies confounding results; cross-reactivity; timing of sampling relative to outbreaks; and biases from non-representative sampling or limited resources. Ethical considerations and data quality also influence study design and interpretation.