Clinical sample access

Studies in Australia are now collecting (or plan to collect) a range of clinical samples from people with COVID-19. Many investigators would potentially like to access COVID-19 samples to answer key research questions and evaluate new diagnostic approaches.

For studies that have agreed to share access details, this page aims to:

  • facilitate awareness of cohorts and clinical trials on COVID-19
  • enhance research co-ordination, integration and collaboration during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Victorian Critical Vaccinees Collection

The Victorian COVID-19 Vaccinees Collection (VC²) is a biospecimen collection – or biobank – of samples from people vaccinated against COVID-19 in Victoria.

All Victorian-based researchers are welcome to apply for access to samples and related demographic and medical history data. Researchers applying for access will need to have ethical approval and complete the VC² sample application process.

Find out more.

How to access samples from COVID-19 trials

Click on the links below for more information on how to access sample cohorts from specific trials:

ASCOT

Trial summary

ASCOT is an investigator-initiated, multi-centre, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Participants will be hospitalised with confirmed COVID-19, and will be randomised 1:1:1:1 to receive Lopinavir/ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine, both or neither drug in addition to standard of care management. Primary outcome will be survival free of ICU-level respiratory support 15 days after enrolment, with a range of clinical and virological secondary endpoints.

Participants

2400 hospitalised adults with COVID-19 – international

Types of samples

Blood (serum, plasma, PBMC), host microbiome and cell pellet for genomics, respiratory samples.

Contact

ASCOT website

Phone: +61 3 9342 9428

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Serosurvey of healthcare workers

Trial summary

To calculate the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion, and assess factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion, among HCW in the following categories:

  • A. Caring for individuals with proven COVID-19
  • B. Caring for individuals who met the suspect case definition for COVID-19 (as defined by their local jurisdiction at the relevant time point)
  • C. Caring for individuals in quarantine after possible exposure to SARS-CoV-2, or
  • D. Handling of laboratory specimens found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2
  • E. Healthcare workers at study sites who do not report direct contact with potential COVID-19 cases or SARS-CoV-2 positive sample.

Participants

Approximately 60 healthcare workers

Types of samples

Serum

Contact

Phone: +61 2 8890 6255

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SETREP-ID

Trial summary

SETREP-ID was established in 2017 as a prospective research platform to detect and characterise emerging infectious diseases. The platform has two phases: the low disease transmission phase and the emergent disease phase.

The aim of SETREP-ID is to provide a responsive research platform framework that can upscale rapidly, efficiently and flexibly to perform both a broad range of epidemiological, clinical and detailed laboratory data collection for detailed research on a range of infectious diseases in the setting of a disease outbreak.

SETREP-ID was operating in the low disease transmission phase, until the recent emergence of COVID-19 Australia in January 2020.

Participants

Participant numbers are not limited. They are aged at least 16 years old; admitted to hospital or in the community, with signs and symptoms that are consistent with an emerging disease OR infected with a pathogen of public health interest.

Types of samples

Blood (whole blood, plasma, PBMCs) and respiratory samples, optional urine, stool, and rectal swab.

Contact

Formal access procedures are in place for these samples. Download the SETREP-ID Sample Access Application Form.

Email: SETREP-ID@unimelb.edu.au

Phone: +61 3 8344 3266

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