Twenty thousand households in England are being contacted to take
part in the first wave of a major new government study to track
Covid-19 in the general population. The study will help improve
understanding around the current rate of infection and how many
people are likely to have developed antibodies to the virus.
Participants in the study will form a representative sample of
the entire UK population by age and geography. The results will
help scientists and the government in the ongoing response to the
coronavirus outbreak, with initial findings expected to be
available in early May.
Led by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the
Office for National Statistics (ONS), the study draws on the
world-leading scientific expertise of the University of Oxford,
backed by the proven testing capabilities of data science company
IQVIA UK and the National Biosample Centre in Milton Keynes.
The flagship study forms part of Pillar 4 of the Government’s Covid-19 testing
strategy, to conduct UK-wide surveillance testing to learn
more about the spread of the disease and help inform the
development of new tests and treatments. It will add to the
population data already being collected through the national
surveillance programme operated by Public Health England, which
has been enhanced since the end of February.
Health Secretary said:
“Understanding more about the rate of Covid-19 infection in the
general population, and the longer-term prevalence of antibodies,
is a vital part of our ongoing response to this virus.
“This survey will help to track the current extent of
transmission and infection in the UK, while also answering
crucial questions about immunity as we continue to build up our
understanding of this new virus.
“Together, these results will help us better understand the
spread of the virus to date, predict the future trajectory and
inform future action we take, including crucially the development
of ground-breaking new tests and treatments.”
Participants will provide samples taken from self-administered
nose and throat swabs and answer a few short questions during a
home visit by a trained health worker. The swab tests will show
whether or not participants currently have the virus. They will
be asked to take further tests every week for the first five
weeks, then every month for 12 months.
In total, 25,000 thousand people will take part in the pilot
phase of the survey, with plans to extend it to up to around
300,000 over the next 12 months.
Adults from around 1,000 households will also provide a blood
sample taken by a trained nurse, phlebotomist or healthcare
assistant. These tests will help determine what proportion of the
population has developed antibodies to Covid-19. Participants
will be asked to give further samples monthly for the next 12
months.
Swabs will be taken from all participating households, whether
their members are reporting symptoms or not. Blood will not be
taken in any households where someone has symptoms of Covid-19 or
is currently self-isolating or shielding.
The trained study health workers will use all the recommended
precautions to protect themselves and everyone in the household
from getting the virus. Swab test results will be communicated
back to participants by their GPs and confidentiality will be
protected throughout the process.
National Statistician Sir Ian Diamond said:
“The Office for National Statistics has huge experience in
running very large household surveys that gather vital
information from a genuinely representative sample of the entire
population. In this case we’ll be using that capability to help
our health expert colleagues to create a reliable picture of the
scale of Covid-19 infection and antibody development that will
inform the key decisions that lie ahead in this pandemic.”
Professor of University of Oxford
Nuffield Department of Medicine said:
“This is one of the largest and most important studies underway
into the Covid-19 virus and will transform our understanding of
the infection. The University of Oxford is delighted to be the
Study Sponsor.”
Tim Sheppard of IQVIA UK said:
“IQVIA is proud to be playing our part in helping to understand
COVID-19 - the greatest public health challenge that has faced
the world in a generation.
“Our nursing team has 30 years’ experience of working with the
NHS to support patient care. This population study is vital,
time-critical work, and is another part of our global mission to
better understand COVID-19 and change the course of this
pandemic.”
Notes to Editors:
- Potential volunteers are
being selected from a group who have already taken part in ONS
surveys and have expressly consented to be contacted about
further research.
- To minimise the burden on NHS
resources and personnel, tests will be undertaken by the IQVIA
nurse in participant’s own homes. By mobilising a dedicated
nationwide team of IQVIA nurses to undertake the COVID-19 tests
in the community, we are helping to ensure that frontline NHS
staff and continue to focus on providing care for those who need
it.
- The de-identified blood
samples will be sent to Oxford University, the study sponsor, for
antibody testing while swabs for infection testing will be sent
to UK Biocentre.
- Funding for the survey is
being provided by the Department for Health and Social Care.
While the pilot phase will take place in England only, it will be
extended to other parts of the UK in due course.
