B3715 - COVID-19 specific antibody testing in ALSPAC G0/G1 - 11/02/2021

B number: 
B3715
Principal applicant name: 
Nic Timpson | University of Bristol (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Ms Lynn Molloy, Dr Kate Northstone, Dr Sue Ring
Title of project: 
COVID-19 specific antibody testing in ALSPAC (G0/G1)
Proposal summary: 

The study aims to estimate how many people in ALSPAC have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. We don’t know yet if having antibodies gives someone long-lasting protection from the virus. The results of this study may help guide public health policy and the government’s plan for its antibody testing strategy.

Other population-based research studies in the UK are also asking their participants to complete the same antibody test. Analysing the information from ALSPAC alongside these other studies will allow a greater understanding of variations across ethnicity, age, socio-economic status and geography. We can use these antibody test results in several ways alongside information already collected in ALSPAC. Such as
information on COVID-19 symptoms, (already collected via questionnaires) medical outcomes, (through record linkage), and data from other clinics and questionnaire that could be related.

Impact of research: 
This work has the chance to assess antibody response VS infection rate VS clinical presentation in Bristol with a home-based test able also to compare patters in Bristol to those in other (demographically different) cities/areas. Careful interpretation of the data will be required, however this work does have the chance to inform understanding of infection, prevalence, age differences, socio-demographic gradients, life course contributions to outcomes and susceptibility and the utility of this form of testing.
Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 9 February, 2021
Date proposal approved: 
Tuesday, 9 February, 2021
Keywords: 
Immunology, Infection, Biological samples -e.g. blood, cell lines, saliva, etc.