REal-time Assessment of Community Transmission (REACT) Antigen testing [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
REal-time Assessment of Community Transmission (REACT) – Antigen testing
IRAS ID
283787
Contact name
Paul Elliott
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
We propose a study of the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in England over a single week. During the study we will collect demographic, household and symptom information and a virological swab to assess infection point prevalence. The study has four main objectives:\n\n1.\tTo quantify the outcome of stringent social distancing and lockdown by measuring the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the community during the week beginning 11th May 2020. \n2.\tTo characterise the geographical variation in risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection across local authorities during the week beginning 11th May.\n3.\tTo investigate the prevalence of infection by sociodemographic characteristics including age, gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status (SES). \n4.\tTo establish a baseline prevalence at a presumed low level achieved during lockdown and hence provide crucial reference data for future (repeated) surveys.\n\nWe propose to undertake a survey of, and virological swab from, an age-sex stratified representative population sample of n=100,000 individuals in England, working in collaboration with Ipsos MORI. The age range will be 5 years and above. This is an important study to help the Government develop its approach to COVID-19 testing.\n\nWe have powered the study to be able to provide reliable estimates of infection point prevalence at the level of local authority, as this is the administrative level responsible for local government and will feed into the local public health response. This will be particularly important to inform disease control measures such as contact tracing at local level. \n\nStudy participation involves a self-administered throat and nasal swab (using same swab to maximise viral pick-up from the two locations) and completion of a short online or telephone questionnaire including information on demographic variables, household composition and recent symptoms. The test will be done once, however we will follow participants up for 12 months to monitor long term health outcomes.\n
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SC/0205
Date of REC Opinion
28 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion