COVID-19 Antibody Response in Healthcare Staff [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
COVID-19 Antibody Response in Healthcare Staff: Prevalence, Duration and Protection against Recurring Infection\n
IRAS ID
284671
Contact name
Patrick T. Kennedy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Abbott Rapid Diagnostics Jena
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN15634328
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 5 days
Research summary
Investigation of COVID-19 Antibody Response in Healthcare Staff:\nCOVID-19 is caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on the 11th March 2020. If someone gets infected with SARS-CoV-2, their immune system produces antibodies to fight against the virus. IgM and IgG antibodies can be detected in the blood of patients who have had COVID-19, and hence a blood sample can be used to measure if someone has had the virus and developed antibodies as a result of infection.\nAbbott’s Panbio COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Device will be used to determine the antibody status of study participants at each visit. Positive IgG results will be confirmed using the laboratory-based Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG test. Any SARS-CoV-2 IgM positive test result will also be confirmed using a laboratory-based test. The participants will be provided with their final test result.\nThis study will investigate how many healthcare workers at Barts Health NHS Trust have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and developed antibodies to this virus. 3000 healthcare workers will be enrolled in the study for this purpose. The participants will include those who care directly for COVID-19 patients as well as those not directly managing COVID-19 patients.\nApprox. 500 healthcare workers will also be followed up at 3 months, and 800-1000 healthcare workers will be followed up at 6 months. These groups will include participants with a positive antibody test result and participants with a negative antibody result at the study enrolment visit. The aim of the follow-up visits is to understand how long the antibody response lasts, and if the antibody protects against recurring SARS-CoV-2 infection. \nVenous plasma will be used for the study measurements. Each study visit will last approximately 30 minutes.\nThe study is funded by Abbott Rapid Diagnostics and Queen Mary University of London.\n\n
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/HRA/2675
Date of REC Opinion
29 May 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion