ISRCTN ISRCTN89159899
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN89159899
IRAS number 282147
Secondary identifying numbers 20-036, IRAS 282147
Submission date
10/07/2020
Registration date
21/08/2020
Last edited
14/02/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Infections and Infestations
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
COVID-19 is a condition caused by the coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) that was first identified in late 2019. This virus can infect the respiratory (breathing) system. Some people do not have symptoms but can carry the virus and pass it on to others. People who have developed the condition may develop a fever and/or a continuous cough among other symptoms. This can develop into pneumonia. Pneumonia is a chest infection where the small air pockets of the lungs, called alveoli, fill with liquid and make it more difficult to breathe.

In 2020, the virus has spread to many countries around the world and neither a vaccine against the virus or specific treatment for COVID-19 has yet been developed. As of March 2020, it is advised that people minimize travel and social contact, and regularly wash their hands to reduce the spread of the virus.

Groups who are at a higher risk from infection with the virus, and therefore of developing COVID-19, include people aged over 70 years, people who have long-term health conditions (such as asthma or diabetes), people who have a weakened immune system and people who are pregnant. People in these groups, and people who might come into contact with them, can reduce this risk by following the up-to-date advice to reduce the spread of the virus.

A fast and reliable diagnostic assay that could be used at the point-of-need (PON) is yet to be developed. We have been working closely with our commercial partners in 2020 on the development of highly sensitive PON tests to facilitate diagnosis at the point of need and to reduce the consequences of diagnostic delay.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 and presence or lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) with bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae (which are commonly found in the throat without necessarily causing symptoms) as well as S. pneumoniae colonisation/LRTI and COVID-19 related disease severity among those that are COVID-19 positive.

Who can participate?
Healthy adults over 18 years old that are attending the hospital with signs and symptoms of coronavirus can participate in the study.

What does the study involve?
The study involves samples being taken at day 0 (consent), day 2, day 7 and day 28. The samples include saliva, throat and nose swabs, nasosorption (blotting paper inserted into the nose to collect some concentrated nasal secretions), urine and blood. Data is collected from hospital case notes, all samples and data collected are annonymous.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Some sampling including nose swabs and blood samples may cause temporary discomfort or bruising however the sampling is minimally invasive. There are no direct benefits of taking part in the study, participation is helping to develop knowledge and improve diagnostic tests. The nose and throat swab is used to detect the coronavirus and may pick up a positive result where the NHS sample has not been taken or taken at a different time-point that has not detected the virus.

Where is the study run from?
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2020 to April 2021

Who is funding the study?
Pfizer (USA)

Who is the main contact?
Angela Hyder-Wright, angela.hyder-wright@lstmed.ac.uk or 2volresearch@lstmed.ac.uk

Study website

Contact information

Mrs Angela Hyder-Wright
Public

Accelerator Research Clinic
Liverpool Life Sciences Accelerator Building
1 Daulby Street
Liverpool
L7 8XZ
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-5989-2811
Phone +44 (0)7540976888
Email angela.hyder-wright@lstmed.ac.uk

Study information

Study designObservational cohort study
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designCohort study
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeDiagnostic
Participant information sheet ISRCTN89159899_PIS_patient_v3.0_31May2020.pdf
Scientific titleFacilitating A SARS CoV-2 TEst for Rapid triage (FASTER)
Study acronymFASTER
Study objectivesThis project will evaluate point-of-need (PON) tests for the detection of the novel strain of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 causing the rapidly growing deadly outbreak of COVID-19 and will study the association between COVID-19 and S. pneumoniae colonisation and clinical outcome.
We are working with industrial partners who have developed a low-cost, lateral flow assay (LFA) to detect viral circulating antigens and IgM/G against COVID-19 in less than 15 minutes. These PON tests are intended for the rapid triage of patients with fever and/or cough. Furthermore, the PON tests will be formatted as self-tests, offering the additional benefit of deploying widely in the home and community settings. In addition, we will evaluate ELISA assays to detect IgG, IgA and IgM against COVID-19.
Ethics approval(s)Approved 08/06/2020, National Health Research Ethics Committee South Central Oxford C (Level 3, Block B, Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2NT, UK; +44 (0)207 104 8041; oxfordc.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 20/SC/0169
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedCOVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 infection)
InterventionHealthy adults over 18 years old that are attending the hospital with signs and symptoms of coronavirus infection can participate in the study. The study involves samples being taken at day 0 (consent), day 2, day 7 and day 28. The samples include saliva, throat and nose swabs, nasosorption (blotting paper inserted into the nose to collect some concentrated nasal secretions), urine and blood. Data is collected from hospital case notes, all samples and data collected are anonymous.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measure1. Pneumococcal colonisation measured in SARS-CoV-2-positive participants and SARS-CoV-2-negative controls by PCR at baseline, day 2, day 7 and day 28
2. SARS-CoV-2 is detected and quantified by RT-qPCR in NP swabs at baseline, day 2, day 7 and day 28 (for the SARS-CoV-2-positive participants)
Secondary outcome measures1. Levels of inflammation are assessed by levels of 30 cytokines in nasal fluid and serum at baseline, day 2, day 7 and day 28
2. T-cell and B-cell antigen-specific responses are measured by flow cytometry based assays using PBMCS at baseline, day 2, day 7 and day 28
3. Antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 are measured by ELISA at baseline, day 2, day 7 and day 28
4. Cellular immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 are measured by flow cytometry and functional assays in BAL samples collected at 3 - 6 months and 9 - 12 months (in both SARS-CoV-2-positive participants and SARS-CoV-2-negative controls)
Overall study start date18/03/2020
Completion date14/04/2021

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants400
Total final enrolment400
Key inclusion criteria1. Adults 18 years old
2. Presenting with any of the following COVID-19 symptoms
2.1 Fever ≥37.8°C +/-
2.2. Shortness of breath +/-
2.3. New/ persistent cough
2.4 Clinical or radiological evidence of pneumonia
3. Fluent spoken English - to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the research project and their proposed involvement
4. Capacity to give informed verbal consent
Key exclusion criteria1. Lack of capacity or unable to perform verbal consent
Date of first enrolment14/04/2020
Date of final enrolment14/04/2021

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centres

Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital
Prescott Street
Liverpool
L7 8XP
United Kingdom
Aintree University Hospital
Lower Lane
Liverpool
L9 7AL
United Kingdom
St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Whiston Hospital
Warrington Road
Prescot
L35 5DR
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
University/education

Pembroke Place
Liverpool
L3 5QA
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)1517053794
Email lstmgov@lstmed.ac.uk
Website http://www.lstmed.ac.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03svjbs84

Funders

Funder type

Industry

Pfizer
Government organisation / For-profit companies (industry)
Alternative name(s)
Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, Davis, Charles Pfizer & Company, Warner-Lambert, King Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Seagen
Location
United States of America

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date14/04/2022
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryOther
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal.
IPD sharing planAll data generated or analysed during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet version v3.0 31/05/2020 25/08/2020 No Yes
Participant information sheet version v3.0 31/05/2020 25/08/2020 No Yes
Protocol file version v3.0 06/05/2020 25/08/2020 No No
Results article 09/02/2022 10/02/2022 Yes No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Additional files

ISRCTN89159899_PROTOCOL_ v3.0_6May2020.pdf
uploaded 25/08/2020
ISRCTN89159899_PIS_patient_v3.0_31May2020.pdf
uploaded 25/08/2020
ISRCTN89159899_PIS_consultee_v3.0_31May2020.pdf
uploaded 25/08/2020

Editorial Notes

14/02/2022: St Helens and Knowsley Hospital Trust was added as a trial participating centre.
10/02/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment number has been added from the reference.
25/08/2020: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. Uploaded protocol (not peer reviewed) Version 3.0 06 May 2020.
2. The participant information sheets were uploaded as additional files.
24/07/2020: Trial’s existence confirmed by South Central - Oxford C REC.