CAVA study [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Covid-19 Capillary and Venous blood Antibody testing Study
IRAS ID
289773
Contact name
Nicholas J. Wareham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, days
Research summary
In the CAVA study, we are testing whether dried blood spots (DBS) can be used to detect COVID-19 antibodies, an indication that a person has had the COVID-19 infection or vaccination. We need to determine the accuracy of measurement of COVID-19 antibodies on DBS samples because we are using this approach in a large-scale study as a practical means of remotely collecting blood samples in order to determine the proportion of people who have antibodies against COVID-19. The DBS sampling method allows blood samples to be taken by people themselves at home and be posted in to our laboratory for analysis.
We are conducting the CAVA study to determine whether DBS samples, taken either by a standard finger-prick method or using a novel OneDraw DBS sampling device, provide the same antibody test results compared to blood taken from a vein in the arm by a trained healthcare practitioner. To do this, we will take a blood sample using these three different test methods in people who have previously tested negative or positive for COVID-19 antibodies. We will test agreement between the three tests in two further subgroups of participants who have a positive MRC Epidemiology venous antibody test who have a) reported definitive symptoms of COVID-19 or b) those without apparent symptoms.
Participants from the NIHR BioResource, who have already been tested for COVID-19 antibodies and agreed to be approached for future studies will be invited to take part. They will be sent an online questionnaire and then invited to an MRC Epidemiology Unit Clinical Research Facility for blood to be collected by a trained study team member from a vein in the arm, from a finger-prick and from the OneDraw device. The samples will then be tested for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NW/0480
Date of REC Opinion
11 Dec 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion