CPC helps launch weekly COVID-19 saliva sampling test across Southampton

A team from the University of Southampton, including Professor Jane Falkingham OBE, Director of the ESRC Centre for Population Change (CPC), is taking a leading role in a newly-launched programme to evaluate regular COVID-19 infection testing for whole households.

Backed by the UK government, the programme involves a partnership of the University, Southampton City Council, and the NHS alongside a wider Hampshire network of public services. The multi-disciplinary team involved includes colleagues from Southampton’s Faculty of Medicine, as well as social statisticians and demographers from CPC and the University’s Social Statistics and Demography department.

Southampton is evaluating a combination of weekly COVID-19 infection testing using a saliva sampling kit plus household isolation advice and linking to national contact tracing for those testing positive. If successful, this could pave the way for wider regular testing, helping to stop the spread of the virus.
The aim is to involve participants in Southampton over the course of the programme so that around 14,000 are taking part in the latter stages.

The non-invasive saliva test allows easier testing of people of all ages and ensures that everyone in the household gets tested regardless of symptoms and on a regular basis. Initially, Southampton’s 800-strong GP-practice workforce are invited to take part, followed by some other essential key workers and some University of Southampton staff and students as the programme evaluates the logistics needed for regular testing of entire households.

Weekly samples will be collected from homes or returned to an agreed location. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) will test samples in their Weybridge laboratories with Optigene's COVID-19 LAMP test, using an approach pioneered by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, working alongside the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

Participants will receive results in no later than 48 hours. The details of those who test positive will be shared with the NHS Test and Trace programme so contact tracing can start immediately. Those testing negative can continue to follow government guidelines in their daily activities and work.

Experts from the University of Southampton and other partners will analyse data in real time to understand the virus’ spread, and to simulate different scenarios for a sustained lifting of lockdown to help move the economy and society to a better state of normality.

“What we learn here will be of critical importance to other areas and the nation as the UK looks to safely re-open the economy and restore near normal social activities. Social distancing, hand washing and fabric face coverings in public places will all continue to be important, but regular testing would go a long way to helping people feel, and be, safer.” comments Professor Keith Godfrey, of the University of Southampton MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit.

Further information and FAQs are available on the Southampton City Council website.

Find out more about CPC’s coronavirus research and activities on our Covid-19 webpage.

Posted 22/06/2020 11:53