Ochsner Health System needs volunteers willing to give a blood sample and get swabbed for the coronavirus. The goal is to try and figure out just how prevalent COVID-19 is in the New Orleans/Jefferson region.
The study will do both swabs and antibody tests. Dr. Leo Seoane, Ochsner's Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, says they need 2,500 people across a broad range of demographics.
"We have (a) Census database and so we know the demographics of the city, and so that 2,500 has to perfectly represent," said Dr. Seoane."It's much like polling that you would do in an election."
Dr. Seoane said they will need a lot of people to sign up so they can narrow it down to the final 2,500.
"The more people register, the more we can select people that truly represent their communities," he explained. "Every age, ethnicity, geography -- we really want to have a true representation of the city in the study."
Data from the study will be analyzed to determine how widespread the virus is in our community and which populations have been most impacted. And it can be used to guide reopening strategies.