Fibrinogen-level monitoring using microfluidic rheometry
Research type
Research Study
Full title
In-Hospital fibrinogen-level monitoring of COPD patients using microfluidic rheometry
IRAS ID
346311
Contact name
Karl Hawkins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Swansea University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
This is a pilot study that intends to recruit Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients who present to the ED department of Morriston Hospital (Swansea Bay University Health Board). It is known that fibrinogen levels are elevated in inflammatory diseases such as COPD, but standard clinical tests for fibrinogen (the Clauss assay) are confined to the pathology laboratory using expensive techniques thus being unsuitable for near patient monitoring. . At Swansea University a new test has been developed for measuring fibrinogen levels based on the rheology (flow properties) of blood plasma. This new test has been tested and optimised in model samples using healthy plasma and is now ready to be tested using blood from COPD patients. This pilot study intends to use this new test to measure fibrinogen levels in blood form COPD patient at different time-points (thus exploring the response to treatment) and compare against existing standard assays.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/PR/1189
Date of REC Opinion
26 Sep 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion