Feasibility and clinical impact of rapid respiratory virus testing in a real-world setting
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN10110119 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10110119 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | Nil known |
| Sponsor | University of Calgary |
| Funder | Alberta Precision Laboratories |
- Submission date
- 29/11/2021
- Registration date
- 01/12/2021
- Last edited
- 18/11/2022
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Infections and Infestations
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Influenza (the flu) and other viruses that have similar symptoms make many people sick every year. Some people get sick enough that they need to go to hospital. There are different treatments for influenza or other illnesses that have the same symptoms. Testing for influenza and other viruses tell the doctor how to treat them. Without these results, doctors must make decisions without knowing the cause of the illness. Newer quicker and easier to use tests (rapid NAT) can help doctors make their decisions faster, but they cost more. We must prove that these tests improve doctors' decisions. Studies have shown that rapid NAT may help doctors order the right medications and decrease the time someone needs to be in hospital. These other studies have mostly been done in an "artificial" study setting and may not be true in the real world. This study aims to see if these tests will improve patient care when ordered and tested by the people who would in the real world.
Who can participate?
Patients seen at one of the two study hospitals by a doctor who orders a respiratory virus test for their care
What does the study involve?
Samples taken for testing will be collected as per normal. The laboratory decides who gets the rapid test or just the standard test.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Results from tests for respiratory viruses (e.g. influenza) may be quicker than normal. The test results may guide the doctor to more appropriate and precise care. There is minimal risk to participants.
Where is the study run from?
Alberta Precision Laboratories (Canada)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2019 to June 2020
Who is funding the study?
Alberta Precision Laboratories (Canada)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Byron Berenger
byron.berenger@ucalgary.ca
Contact information
Public
3535 Research Road NW
Calgary
T2L 2K8
Canada
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-9062-6346 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +1 (0)587 779 5573 |
| byron.berenger@ucalgary.ca |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Two-centre parallel randomized controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised parallel trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | A pragmatic randomized controlled trial of rapid on-site influenza and respiratory syncytial virus PCR testing in pediatric and adult populations |
| Study objectives | 1. A turnaround time (TAT) of 2 hours in 90% of cases is achievable by testing at hospital laboratories in Alberta. 2. Patients tested with a rapid test have a shorter length of hospital stay and improved utilization of other health care resources compared to a non-rapid test. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 10/12/2019, University of Calgary Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada; +1 (0)403 220 2297; chreb@ucalgary.ca), ref: REB19-2047 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus |
| Intervention | Patients with a respiratory viral testing order are randomized to testing at either a central accredited laboratory with a respiratory pathogen panel nucleic acid test (standard arm) or with a rapid polymerase chain reaction test at an on-site accredited laboratory (rapid on-site test [ROST] arm) followed by standard of care testing. Randomization is done based on the day of receipt of the specimen in the hospital laboratory. Patients and clinicians are blinded to assignment. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
1. Turnaround time for the rapid NAT or standard of care test, as measured from the time of collection of the sample to the verification of the result. Time of collection submitted by the collector and recorded in the laboratory information system (LIS). Time of result is when reported by the laboratory in the LIS. Times will be retrieved from the LIS at the end of the study. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
All secondary outcome measures are recorded in the clinical information system as a part of routine care and will be retrieved from there at the end of the study: |
| Completion date | 16/06/2020 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | All |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 328 |
| Total final enrolment | 1090 |
| Key inclusion criteria | All patients with a respiratory virus nucleic acid test ordered by a physician at one of the two study hospitals |
| Key exclusion criteria | Patients without a respiratory virus nucleic acid test ordered by a physician at one of the two study hospitals |
| Date of first enrolment | 06/01/2020 |
| Date of final enrolment | 14/03/2020 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Canada
Study participating centres
Calgary
T1Y 6J4
Canada
Calgary
T3B 6A8
Canada
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Byron M. Berenger (byron.berenger@ucalgary.ca) when the study is published in a peer-reviewed journal. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 16/11/2022 | 18/11/2022 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Preprint results | 06/06/2022 | 18/07/2022 | No | No |
Editorial Notes
18/11/2022: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment was added.
18/07/2022: Preprint reference added.
30/11/2021: Trial's existence confirmed by the University of Calgary Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board.
