SCV-19 study [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Streamlining CV-19 sample collection
IRAS ID
266512
Contact name
Pegine Walrad
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of York
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 6 days
Research summary
The government instituted a TestingMethods2020 community to request ideas from the scientific community toward 4 objectives to streamline COVID-19 testing strategies for large-scale use. The governmental committee has requested further (pilot) data in support of a submitted idea https://testingmethods.crowdicity.com/post/3167810?highlightPost=3197400). The committee has therefore proposed Dr Walrad apply for ethical approval for the submitted proposal.\n\nThis study will test whether the collection of saliva from the mouth via a plastic pasteur pipette can substitute for collection of nasal discharge using a cotton swab, and uses RNAlater (or equivalent) to maintain patient sample integrity. This substitution has the potential to significantly reduce patient discomfort, particularly as the nasal-pharyngeal swabs are necessarily deep and improve sample collection without losing sample integrity so streamlining and improving COVID-19 testing.\nCollaborating clinical professionals will identify, inform and request consent from potential volunteers. \nA total of 4 samples will be collected from 300 volunteers for the study in conjunction with routine sampling and any other concurrent study sample collections from attending clinical staff:\n1.\tNasal and oropharynx discharge by cotton swab. \n2.\tMouth saliva by pasteur pipette.\n3.\tMouth saliva by spitting into eppendorf.\n4.\tUp to 1 additional exploratory swab for local Sheffield point-of-care test validation. Where collected, this will be a combined nasal/pharyngeal swab.\nIn the absence of nasal moisture a water nasal spray will be used prior to sample 1 isolation. In the absence of saliva due to ‘dry mouth’ condition the volunteer can be given water to drink for saliva to generate.\n\n\nNB These will be in addition to routine swabs taken for conventional CV clinical diagnostics.\n\nThe study clinician/healthcare professional will process the routine CV-19 samples and place the study samples in RNA stabilizing agent (RNAlater, RNAstable) for transferral to the University of York for processing and in-house COVID-19 testing by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NW/0349
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jul 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion