COVID-19 Antibody Test Evaluation Study (CATE Study) [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
COVID-19 Antibody Test Evaluation Study (CATE Study)
IRAS ID
286538
Contact name
Sara Jenks
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Lothian
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 28 days
Research summary
Study Aims:\n1.\tTo collect blood samples to help with developing new or better COVID-19 antibody blood tests\n2.\tTo investigate the link between COVID-19 symptoms and blood antibody levels\n3.\tTo investigate whether COVID-19 antibody blood levels fall over time\n4.\tTo trial home antibody-testing kits in a small population of people, to help us find out how easy it is to use these home testing kits.\n5.\tTo find out if knowledge about antibody status has an impact on people’s thoughts and social distancing behaviour\n\nAntibodies are proteins produced by the body’s immune system in response to infection. We think that most people who have been infected with COVID-19 will produce antibodies in their blood in response to the COVID-19 virus but we do not know this for sure and research studies such as this one will help us gain a better understanding of this. \n\nAs COVID-19 is a new virus, the antibody tests are still in development and must be carefully checked to ensure that they produce reliable results. Samples collected as part of this study will be used to help validate the new COVID-19 antibody tests, and ensure that the NHS can quickly adopt and roll-out accurate new antibody tests.\n\nOne of the new antibody tests being validated is a type of test which could potentially be carried out at home by anyone without needing special training. We need feedback from study participants to let us know how easy or difficult these tests are to use to understand whether or not it would be possible to use these antibody testing kits at home. It is also important for us to know what impact antibody status social distancing measures. This will help us to anticipate people’s responses if antibody tests are made available to the wider Scottish population in the future. \n
REC name
London - Brent Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/HRA/3764
Date of REC Opinion
27 Aug 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion