Virus identification from CSF and Respiratory Samples
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Retrospective identification of PARV4 and other known and unknown viruses from CSF and respiratory samples from hospitalised UK patients
IRAS ID
154414
Contact name
Philippa Matthews
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Clinical Trials and Research Governance
Research summary
This is a pilot study, setting out to study the range of viruses present in samples from patients hospitalised in the UK. The study will help to optimise methods for detecting viruses in clinical samples, to determine which viruses are present in our samples of interest, and to inform planning of future studies to investigate the clinical significance of these viruses.
We are proposing to use left-over samples from Oxford University Hospital's microbiology laboratory. We will identify respiratory and CSF (Cerebro-Spinal Fluid, usually collected by a lumbar puncture test) samples, only after all clinical investigations are complete and the sample would otherwise be discarded.
We plan to screen these samples using two different methods for detecting viral genetic material: first, to identify viruses belonging to specific viral families, and second to identify any viruses, irrespective of family.
We are particularly interested to see whether we can detect a virus called PARV4, that was first identified in 2005 using a similar screening approach. There is no clear clinical syndrome associated with this virus, and it is currently not regarded as clinically significant. However, small studies have identified it in CSF and respiratory samples from children in Asia and Africa respectively, prompting us to ask whether we can replicate this in a UK study.
The technique used for identification of PARV4 shows how valuable it can be to screen for unknown, or unexpected, viruses. This underpins our approach to screening, such that we can potentially identify a broad range of different viruses.
Collecting a small amount of clinical data (anonymised and accessed from the electronic microbiology record only) will allow us to build up a preliminary picture of which individuals might be at risk of viral infection, and will inform the planning of future studies focusing on the most appropriate patients and samples.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1077
Date of REC Opinion
28 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion