A novel T-cell immunity test, to detect cellular level immunity, along with serosurveys can help detect infection spread and control the pandemic’s fangs, to an extent.

T-cells, which are the body’s infection-fighting cells, actively work to fight and prevent infections in the body. By ascertaining the number of T-cell counts in the body, the tests could be able to help detect COVID spread in a specific community. These novel T-cell tests can also serve additional purposes during the pandemic time, even as experts worry some parts of India still haven’t witnessed a peak.

The test, which is the first of its kind, has been developed by Dr Sonal Asthana, Aster CMI Hospital and Dr Vishnu Kurpad of Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital. The doctors have also applied for a patent and regulatory licensing so it could be pushed into use.