Background: The SARS-COV2 outbreak has had a major impact on the economy and society. Researchers want to learn how widespread the infection is in the rare disease community. To do this, they will get blood samples from people with rare diseases. They will use at-home sampling. This will allow them to get samples from people across a wide area. Objective: To estimate the proportion of people with rare diseases who have SARS-COV2 antibodies in the National Center for the Advancement of Translational Sciences Rare Disease Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) Rare Diseases Survey over time. Eligibility: People under age 90 who have a rare disease and have taken part in the Cincinnati Children s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) protocol# 2020-0299. Design: RDCRN will tell CCHMC participants about this NIH study. RDCRN will only reach out to those who agreed to be contacted for future studies. They will be contacted by phone and email. Participants will have a virtual visit to collect data. It will take place over the phone. Participants will be sent a home kit to collect a blood sample. The kit contains gauze, a lancet, bandages, a collection device, and instructions. They will also be given shipping materials. They will give up to 80ul of blood. They will ship the sample back to NIH. Participants will complete a survey. It can be done online or over the phone. Participation will last for 1 week.
It has been demonstrated that respiratory virus outbreaks and pandemics, such as influenza,
SARS, MERS, and now the newly emerged SARS-COV2 virus, have a major impact on morbidity and
mortality worldwide, as well as having devastating global economic and societal impact.
During these outbreaks it is critical to gain a rapid understanding of the exposures and
immunity in the general population. Current ongoing serosurvey efforts to estimate the
prevalence of infection/exposure are focused on the general population, but these estimates
may not be applicable to individuals living with rare diseases. An effort to identify the
impact of this pandemic on this community is underway in the Rare Disease Clinical Research
Network (RDCRN) led by the Data Management and Coordinating Center (DMCC) at Cincinnati
Children s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) supported by NCATS. Through a survey they are
attempting to evaluate infection rates and impact on those with rare diseases. In this study
we propose to enroll a subset of the individuals participating in the RDCRN study to collect
blood for SARS-Cov-2 antibody testing. This will allow us to add a biological marker to
confirm infection/exposure and further our understanding of how widespread this infection is
in the rare diseae community.
- INCLUSION CRITERIA:
1. <90 years of age.
2. Participant in CCHMC Protocol# 2020-0299.
3. Will have expressed interest in discussing this study with us when contacted by
CCHMC Protocol# 2020-0299 study team.
4. Willing and able to complete a verbal telephone consent or, has a parent/guardian
or Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) able to complete the consent.
5. Willing to undergo home blood sampling procedures.
6. Willing to have blood samples stored for future research.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
1. Unable to provide consent and/or does not have a parent, guardian, or LAR to provide
consent
2. Any condition or event that, in the PI s opinion, may substantially increase the risk
associated with study participation or compromise the study s scientific objectives.
Conditions that exclude a subject are considered to be unlikely, but an example would
include having an acute respiratory infection that would make it unsafe to obtain
blood samples.
3. Not willing to have blood samples stored for future research.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Bethesda, Maryland, United States
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Matthew J Memoli, M.D., Principal Investigator
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)