REal-time Assessment of Community Transmission 2 (REACT 2) [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
REal-time Assessment of Community Transmission 2 (REACT 2): Usability and feasibility study of widespread home self-testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies
IRAS ID
283805
Contact name
Graham Cooke
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 0 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
In the response to COVID-19, widespread testing for antibodies has been suggested as a way of monitoring the pandemic at a population level, for understanding immune response and natural history, and potentially for use with individuals to assess their past exposure and possibly immunity. There are uncertainties around each of these uses. The React 2 study is a small-scale study to test the accuracy, suitability and usability of a self-sampling and self-testing kit for SARS-CoV-2 (Coronavirus) and the feasibility of using a kit at home as part of a large study in the community and in a clinical environment. The eligibility criteria will include clinical and non-clinical NHS workers who have tested PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2 antigen. Researchers will also approach those who have already consented to donate samples to Communicable Tissue Bank and staff who have tested positive through NHS testing programmes to participate. LFTs are point of care tests to measure specific anti-bodies in the blood. Prior to widescale use of any LFT for self-testing can be introduced, there is the need of a pilot test to ascertain whether such tests can be used at home and what degree of confidence could be placed in the results self-reported by users. These should be conducted at the same time as laboratory-based assessments are being conducted of the performance and validity of the tests in comparison with a gold standard. We propose 5 linked sub-studies: Study 1: Usability, acceptability and performance of LFTs in health service workers; Study 2: Usability, acceptability and design of LFT self-testing in public volunteers; Study 3: Usability and feasibility of LFT self-testing in the community; Study 4: Usability and validity of LFT self-testing in key workers; Study 5: A nationally representative sero-prevalence study through self-administered lateral flow tests. All five sub-studies will have different inclusion criteria, study design and participant recruitment methods.Summary of Results
The study had a number of key findings. It provided the first estimates of the total number of individuals infected with SARSCoV2 in the first wave of the pandemic in England , also demonstrating that differences in hospitalisation by ethnic group reflected differing risks of infection rather than disease progression.
The study was then the first to demonstrate falling antibody levels in the population which was not consistent with a major effect of herd immunity and gave greater emphasis to the need to accelerate the vaccine programme.
With the roll out of vaccine, the study demonstrated factors associated with response to vaccination.
All outputs are summarised here :https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fu2790089.ct.sendgrid.net%2Fls%2Fclick%3Fupn%3DXv3JSvJ-2B3M71ppf7N9agbci-2B4prh4I8ssYUxwTsEjyl5w5RqMOq99HyJkmm3j8-2BbwmENp-2BR-2BOMrTzqJon0tAYhrMcG6BsM67PG6ak0WwR0O-2BCvVtxbLcFm0NpaQQP6M944qB_E1aO2-2BZlVOSJJV-2FajQqskegTd6IRomHYTi-2Fbt8SH3YLScjd-2BgS0nJtfcXv7Wf1vIoFZJskham4Riv9y1UYC8z2B5gILtnV8AxoJW95cFiAQb3H4W0176iRc-2FRHL7tbSZnEWztf1CD-2FfGVKMUBw05cPOdn0iquZuekXpR1wibVuM-2BQtGkLTMRYvRsvZ3FGXGV-2FuW9CV5W2NNF7xpQ5x3guA-3D-3D&data=05%7C01%7Capprovals%40hra.nhs.uk%7Caa40f531865a419335f708da84236edb%7C8e1f0acad87d4f20939e36243d574267%7C0%7C0%7C637967584959900571%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=de3ES6OJ6ZKtnPfD7hQjrHfpXEIgPbWZuUVeNfsLEqs%3D&reserved=0REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SC/0206
Date of REC Opinion
29 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion