PCP PCR on Blood v 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Comparison of Pneumocystis jirovecii PCR on blood and bronchoscopy samples in hospital inpatients with suspected Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)
IRAS ID
319336
Contact name
R C BARTON
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Pneumocystis pneumonia or PCP, is a serious lung infection seen mainly in patients whose immune systems are compromised (eg. in HIV and transplant patients). To diagnose it, you normally need to obtain a respiratory sample and test using a PCR test. The best kind of sample is called a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) which is an invasive procedure. Other samples include sputum though patients with PCP often do not have a productive cough. We are planning to test paired BAL and blood samples on patients suspected of having PCP and compare the results. We will also do another blood test called beta d glucan which is not specific for PCP but useful, and also look at how levels of the test change over time during treatment. We thus hope to show that blood tests can be used to diagnose PCP rather than invasive respiratory samples.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0141
Date of REC Opinion
31 May 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion