1 Background to the investigation

In Week 3, you were introduced to the sample set provided by the ELISA: epidemiology laboratory. The set of 60 serum samples were chosen to allow investigation of the level of immunity to SARS-CoV2 in the UK population in August 2021.

This time point was chosen because it is particularly interesting and instructive. At this time a majority of the UK adult population had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and a significant minority had been infected with SARS-CoV2. Both of these groups would be expected to have antibodies to the spike protein.

The aim of the investigation is to determine what proportion of the population has antibodies to the spike protein. But first you will learn a little more about the COVID-19 epidemic in the UK to place your investigation in to context.