Valovote study [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Validating remote low volume blood tests (Volovote) including SARS-COV-2 serology
IRAS ID
286396
Contact name
Timothy McDonald
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting face-to-face visits for people requiring blood tests would have major advantages by reducing risk in spreading the virus at the time when blood samples are taken. Blood samples are typically taken by a healthcare professional who will take samples from multiple people on the same day. This frequent close contact puts the healthcare professional at a higher risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19 than other members of the population. \nFinger prick capillary blood samples offer a way that people can avoid the increased risk associated with having a venous blood sample collected. The person can take their own blood tests at home and then post them to the laboratory. However, it is important that any new method of blood sampling is proven to have equivalence before tests are used to help guide medical decisions. We therefore need to assess whether a sample taken from a finger prick capillary sample gives the same results as a standard blood sample taken from a vein in the arm.\nThere is currently a major goal of performing SARS-COV 2 antibody testing in a large proportion of the UK population. Additionally, many medical conditions require routine blood testing as standard care, but routine hospital and GP appointments are currently virtual to reduce risk associated with hospital or GP surgery visits. This disproportionally impacts the highest risk patients who are advised to shield at home, but commonly need bloods tests as part of chronic disease management. It would be a major advance to cut the need for GP and hospital visits for blood tests, potentially offering improved safety, cost and convenience for patients.\n
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SW/0130
Date of REC Opinion
3 Aug 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion