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NCT Number: NCT04956445

Collection of SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) Virus Secretions and Serum for Countermeasure Development

Collection of SARS-COV-2 Secretions and Serum for Countermeasure Development (aka ClinSeqSer) is an observational study to understand natural history of SARS-COV-2 infections among special populations and characterise post-covid morbidity through immune response, virus genome sequencing, cytokine response, and virus shedding. Given the descriptions of infection course of patients over the outbreak of 2003 (SARS-Cov01) and since January 2019 in China and Europe, and now worldwide:

1. Acutely infected patients shed virus that could be of major interest to characterize (viral quantification, characterization of virus shedding -of infective and of non-infective virus) the former reflecting/predictive of severity of disease and the latter reflecting extent/source of contagiosity. 2. Convalescent infected patients develop a specific anti-virus antibody response that is (likely) protective and therefore suits the preliminary requirement for the potential benefits of the convalescent patient plasma therapeutic infusion approach. In addition, long term effects of COVID-19 commonly known as long-haulers remains clinically unclear.

Thousands of patients have now been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Louisiana (444,000 cases, 10,122 deaths, 2.2% mortality in Louisiana (LA), as of March 2021), and numerous patients are now also complaining of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). The investigators want to further clarify questions surrounding rational confinement duration and therapeutic approach by collecting plasma of convalescent patients to identify optimal antibody titer by ELISA, specificity of naturally occurring inflammatory (protein/antibody and RNA) response, and possibly test in vitro antibody neutralization activity.

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Key information

Age range

6 month–120 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

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About this study

The investigators are proposing two strategies to help mitigate COVID-19:

  • Establish active data registry for infected patients, which includes both sequence of viral isolate and clinical course. The purpose of this would be to determine whether sequences are evolving, which might affect planned countermeasures, and to evaluate which comorbidities/concurrent medications/clinical findings are the highest predictors for risk. This could allow us to better target screening and triage efforts, and potentially discontinue/substitute out medications that are worsening infection. For example, if diabetics confirm to be a particularly high risk they should potentially receive more rigorous screening, earlier admission, earlier medication optimization. For another example, there is some concern that patients with hypertension on angiotensin receptor blocking agents may have enhanced expression of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE-2), the entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2. If the investigators can confirm whether patients on Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARBs) have severe outcomes, this would justify the potential switch to alternate agents. Collect serum/plasma from convalescent patients. Patients who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have recovered (>14 days since diagnosis) or individuals with no defined past COVID-19 infection, but the potential to have been exposed to (and mounted antibodies against) COVID-19 will provide a sample of whole blood, as well as other samples.
  • Determine long-term sequelae and pulmonary-related health outcomes for infected patients with COVID-19. Patients who survive infection with SARS Cov-2 are at risk of physical and psychological complications of lung injury. The investigators aim to determine the long-term sequelae of this infection. This would allow the investigators to better understand the long-term health impacts (physiological, functional, and quality-of-life) of this disease. Specifically, they aim to 1) conduct a systematic study of subjects post-COVID in order to determine which part(s) of that morbidity (clinical and laboratory) is caused by COVID, and 2) Identify predictors of post-COVID morbidity, including any protective role of treatments used during acute infection, and identify biomarkers (virus and host) that might be associated with severity/duration of the post-COVID syndrome. Overall, the investigators aim to define the entity of post-COVID morbidity, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) so that they can then begin to explore methods to treat, and, ideally, prevent this morbidity.

The investigators are expanding the criteria for inclusion in this study to other viruses in order to

  • Develop a comparator group to determine whether immunomodulation induced by SARS CoV-2 differs from other respiratory viruses,
  • Prepare for both routine seasonal and potential future influenza pandemic, which has been an ongoing concern for years now, and
  • Expand their ability to monitor for potential intermixing of seasonal coronaviruses and SARS CoV-2, which could impact diagnostic tests for both.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Population 1:

Inclusion criteria

  • Positive diagnostic test for COVID-19, influenza A or B virus, non COVID-19 coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus, adenovirus, or metapneumovirus
  • Patient or legally authorized representative has provided verbal consent / verbal HIPAA (or parental permission form and assent form, as appropriate)

Exclusion criteria

  • None

Population 2:

Inclusion criteria

  • Positive diagnostic test for COVID-19 >14 days prior, OR potential to have been exposed to (and mounted antibodies against) COVID-19, OR positive diagnostic test for influenza A or B virus, non COVID-19 coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus, adenovirus, or metapneumovirus
  • Patient or legally authorized representative has signed informed consent (or parental permission form and assent form, as appropriate)

Exclusion criteria

Patients with the following criteria:

  • Aged under 6 months old
  • Anemia (Hgb <7)
  • Platelet <80

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. COVID-19 clinically severe vs non severe cases

    Time frame: 2 Years

    To determine the clinical and laboratory risk factors which lead to severe vs non-severe COVID-19 clinical course in ambulatory patients.

    Severe COVID-19 cases defined as death or hospitalized on invasive mechanical ventilation or Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

    Non-severe COVID-19 cases defined as hospitalized on non-invasive ventilation or high flow oxygen devices or requiring low flow supplemental oxygen (less than 15L) or not requiring supplemental oxygen, requiring ongoing medical care or no longer requires on going medical care or not hospitalized.

  2. Post-COVID symptoms onset at 3 months

    Time frame: 3 Months

    The proportion (in percentage) of the study cohort exhibiting post-COVID symptoms after recovering from COVID-19 at 3 months from initial date of symptom onset. Post-COVID symptoms which are all new since COVID infection are fatigue, tiredness or exhaustion, muscle aches/muscle pains, pain in joints, problems in sleep, forgetfulness/memory problems, difficulty thinking or concentrating, dizziness or fainting, fever, headache, nausea or abdominal pain, diarrhea, runny nose, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath/abnormal breathing, loss of smell, loss of taste, and inability to walk.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Post-COVID symptoms onset at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

    The proportion (in percentage) of the study cohort exhibiting post-COVID symptoms after recovering from COVID-19 at 6 months from initial date of symptom onset. Post-COVID symptoms which are all new since COVID infection are fatigue, tiredness or exhaustion, muscle aches/muscle pains, pain in joints, problems in sleep, forgetfulness/memory problems, difficulty thinking or concentrating, dizziness or fainting, fever, headache, nausea or abdominal pain, diarrhea, runny nose, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath/abnormal breathing, loss of smell, loss of taste, and inability to walk.

  2. Post-COVID symptoms onset at 9 months

    Time frame: 9 months

    The proportion (in percentage) of the study cohort exhibiting post-COVID symptoms after recovering from COVID-19 at 9 months from initial date of symptom onset. Post-COVID symptoms which are all new since COVID infection are fatigue, tiredness or exhaustion, muscle aches/muscle pains, pain in joints, problems in sleep, forgetfulness/memory problems, difficulty thinking or concentrating, dizziness or fainting, fever, headache, nausea or abdominal pain, diarrhea, runny nose, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath/abnormal breathing, loss of smell, loss of taste, and inability to walk.

  3. Post-COVID symptoms onset at 12 months

    Time frame: 12 months

    The proportion (in percentage) of the study cohort exhibiting post-COVID symptoms after recovering from COVID-19 at 12 months from initial date of symptom onset. Post-COVID symptoms which are all new since COVID infection are fatigue, tiredness or exhaustion, muscle aches/muscle pains, pain in joints, problems in sleep, forgetfulness/memory problems, difficulty thinking or concentrating, dizziness or fainting, fever, headache, nausea or abdominal pain, diarrhea, runny nose, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath/abnormal breathing, loss of smell, loss of taste, and inability to walk.

  4. Post-COVID symptoms onset at 15 months

    Time frame: 15 months

    The proportion (in percentage) of the study cohort exhibiting post-COVID symptoms after recovering from COVID-19 at 15 months from initial date of symptom onset. Post-COVID symptoms which are all new since COVID infection are fatigue, tiredness or exhaustion, muscle aches/muscle pains, pain in joints, problems in sleep, forgetfulness/memory problems, difficulty thinking or concentrating, dizziness or fainting, fever, headache, nausea or abdominal pain, diarrhea, runny nose, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath/abnormal breathing, loss of smell, loss of taste, and inability to walk.

  5. Post-COVID symptoms onset at 18 months

    Time frame: 18 months

    The proportion (in percentage) of the study cohort exhibiting post-COVID symptoms after recovering from COVID-19 at 18 months from initial date of symptom onset. Post-COVID symptoms which are all new since COVID infection are fatigue, tiredness or exhaustion, muscle aches/muscle pains, pain in joints, problems in sleep, forgetfulness/memory problems, difficulty thinking or concentrating, dizziness or fainting, fever, headache, nausea or abdominal pain, diarrhea, runny nose, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath/abnormal breathing, loss of smell, loss of taste, and inability to walk.

  6. Post-COVID symptoms onset at 21 months

    Time frame: 21 months

    The proportion (in percentage) of the study cohort exhibiting post-COVID symptoms after recovering from COVID-19 at 21 months from initial date of symptom onset. Post-COVID symptoms which are all new since COVID infection are fatigue, tiredness or exhaustion, muscle aches/muscle pains, pain in joints, problems in sleep, forgetfulness/memory problems, difficulty thinking or concentrating, dizziness or fainting, fever, headache, nausea or abdominal pain, diarrhea, runny nose, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath/abnormal breathing, loss of smell, loss of taste, and inability to walk.

  7. Post-COVID symptoms onset at 24 months

    Time frame: 24 months

    The proportion (in percentage) of the study cohort exhibiting post-COVID symptoms after recovering from COVID-19 at 24 months from initial date of symptom onset. Post-COVID symptoms which are all new since COVID infection are fatigue, tiredness or exhaustion, muscle aches/muscle pains, pain in joints, problems in sleep, forgetfulness/memory problems, difficulty thinking or concentrating, dizziness or fainting, fever, headache, nausea or abdominal pain, diarrhea, runny nose, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath/abnormal breathing, loss of smell, loss of taste, and inability to walk.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Dahlene Fusco, MD, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

504-988-7316

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Tulane University

Other

Collaborators

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Gilead Sciences

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jul 9, 2021
Registry last updated
May 19, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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