This study is to evaluate the utility of the PCL Rapid Antigen Test for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in a real world clinical setting. The PCL test has completed laboratory validation and holds a European CE marking for in vitro diagnostic devices. These tests have been made available to South West Pathology Services as a donation in kind by iPP (Integrated Pathology Partnership). They have been widely used in South Korea. This study will test the practical delivery of the test in terms of time constraints and error rates. We will also compare the objective performance to the current standard diagnostic test for COVID-19 and against a proven serological antibody test when a suitable reference testing becomes available. We will recruit patients having a SARS CoV-2 PCR swab test and ask for consent to test them with the PCL antigen test in parallel. We aim to study 200 patients split across three sites; Musgrove Park Hospital, Basildon University Hospital and Southend University Hospital. The results will not be used to guide clinical decision making. Patients having a COVID PCR test will be asked to read the patient information sheet and asked if they would like to participate. The patients will be asked to have a second nasal/throat swab taken shortly after their swab for the PCR test. Written informed consent will be taken for whole blood or plasma left over from any routine clinical sample to be stored as anonymised samples for future testing once a reference test becomes available. We will report results of the onsite clinical diagnostic test and the PCL antigen test with the number of the kit used, and test date. Anonymised information about year of birth, gender and place of testing will be collected alongside date of onset, symptoms and immunodeficiency status or significant conditions.
Participants will be identified as they attend assessment areas or testing facilities hosted
by the recruiting NHS centres. They will be screened by clinical staff and identified to the
research team.
Consent will be taken by a clinical staff member or research staff member with the aim of
reducing the number of contacts with the patients and minimising the usage of personal
protective equipment.
The consent form gives the patient the opportunity to ask further questions. Only those that
are able to consent for themselves will be recruited for this trial.
We want to allow patients as long as possible to make a decision to participate but we feel
it is important if possible that the swab samples are taken during the same patient contact
(reducing PPE usage and minimising additional staff exposures). However there should not be
undue delay to clinical testing therefore we propose if due to clinical urgency potential
participants do not have sufficient time to consider the patient information sheet and
discuss the trial prior to the PCR swab being taken they can have up to 24 hours to consider
this information and participate if they wish to.
Consent will be taken by a clinical staff member or research staff member reducing the number
of contacts with the patients. They will then be assigned a trial number used to identify
them during the trial. The consent form that will be photocopied and reprinted on clean
paper, with the original staying with the patient. The clean copy will be stored in the
patient's notes and the case record file.
The current standard COVID PCR swab will be taken and a second swab taken immediately after
for use in the rapid antigen test. As the swab process can be uncomfortable after the first
swab is taken for the standard clinical test (PCR) the participant's consent will be
confirmed again prior to taking the second swab required for the antigen test. After consent
the research team will complete an anonymised data case record form from the notes and
clinical management database. Participant's year of birth and date of onset of symptoms if
symptomatic will be documented.
From routine blood samples taken by phlebotomy or clinical staff consent will be sort to
store a leftover sample. This will be processed and stored by research laboratory staff. This
will be stored in an anonymised secure research freezer.
In the laboratory their swab for the PCL COVID19 Ag rapid FIA will be run on the test
platform. Following the test the swab will be destroyed as per local guidelines for
contaminated items. This will performed by dedicated research laboratory scientists.
Participant's results from this antigen test will not be used to make clinical decisions. We
will not be able to feedback participants' individual results.
Participants are expected to be in the study for total of 20 minutes total although this will
be spread over their patient journey so they have sufficient time to read the information
leaflet and ask questions.
Diagnostic Test: PCL COV05 - COVID 19 Ag Rapid FIA test (Rapid Antigen Test)
The PCL COV05 - COVID 19 Ag Rapid FIA test has FSC and CE approvals for the qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 Antigens from human oropharyngeal swabs and deep sputum samples. The manufacturer is PCL Corporation Ltd 17F, 128 B-dong, Courthouse-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Participant has clinical indication for a COVID diagnostic test and a clinical blood
sample from which whole blood or plasma will be leftover for storage
Exclusion Criteria:
- Inability to give written informed consent.
Musgrove Park Hospital
Taunton, Somerset, United Kingdom
Investigator: Justin Pepperell, MD
justin.pepperell@tst.nhs.uk
Investigator: