At a glance
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European Pregnancy and Paediatric Infections Cohort Collaboration (EPPICC) SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Study Protocol
In Brief
An observational study for Sars-Cov2 Antibodies in Children and Adolescents Living With HIV. Completed, enrolled 906 participants across 7 sites in 6 countries.
Detailed Summary
Scientific knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic and the virus that is causing it (SARS-CoV-2) is developing rapidly, and the investigators have a clearer idea of the population groups who are at higher risk of becoming infected, having serious illness, and dying. However, less is known about COVID-19 in children, adolescents and young adults living with HIV. It is not yet known whether, or how, HIV affects people's risk of being infected with the virus or becoming ill. This study aims to find out whether children and adolescents living with HIV have had the COVID-19 virus, even if they did not have symptoms and did not realise it at the time. When a person is infected with a virus, their immune system fights the infection. As a result, they produce proteins called antibodies, and it may take a few weeks for enough antibodies to be made to be detected by a blood test. These antibodies may help protect the person from getting the same infection again. This study wants to find out how many children and adolescents living with HIV across Europe and South Africa have antibodies to the COVID-19 virus. It wants to see if the proportion with antibodies is different in younger children compared to older adolescents and young adults, and whether it varies between different countries. Children and adolescents with HIV regularly attend hospital outpatient appointments, and during these appointments blood samples may be taken to monitor their health. This study will invite these patients to be tested for antibodies to the COVID-19 virus during their routine visit. The participants will be asked a few short questions about COVID-19 diagnoses in their household and other risk factors for exposure to the virus, and it will collect information on their HIV, medications and any other illnesses they may have. At their next routine clinic visit, approximately 6 months later, it will test them again for antibodies. Testing twice will let see how the percentage of children, adolescents and young adults with antibodies to the COVID-19 virus has changed over time. In South Africa, HIV-uninfected adolescents from a similar socioeconomic background to those living with HIV and recruited to the study will be invited to join this study, which will allow us to compare the prevalence of antibodies across the two groups. The information from this study will help scientists and healthcare workers care for children, adolescents and young adults living with HIV during the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic in the best possible way. Participants may be given their test results, together with information about what the result means, depending on the usual practice within their clinic.