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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04460638

SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) Diagnosis in Human Saliva by MALDI-TOF MS Profiling

Since March 2020, SARS-CoV2 virus (nCoV19; COVID-19) is considered pandemic. Its high rate of spread and infection in the human population and the lack of effective and validated treatment have led the authorities of several countries to confine their populations to slow the spread of COVID-19. As part of the management of this health crisis, the screening of individuals is essential in order to isolate "infected cases". These screening tests are currently performed on nasopharyngeal swabs using RT-PCR for the detection of viral RNA. Although sensitive and specific, these tests remain relatively long (2-5 hours), expensive and the strong international demand for nucleic extraction kits and enzymes are factors limiting the implementation of widespread screening (problem of supply of swabs, molecular biology consumables).

In order to prevent the risks of a shortage of screening means, we propose to develop an innovative alternative strategy, PCR-free, based on the detection of specific protein signatures in human saliva by MALDI-TOF MS profiling. MALDI-TOF MS profiling is a method used in routine diagnostics by microbiology laboratories for the identification of microorganisms. MALDI-TOF MS profiling has been successfully used to classify individuals according to their infectious status (oral pathologies) based on the analysis of their saliva, but also as a tool for the identification of respiratory viruses from cell culture supernatants. In addition, we have expertise and skills in the field of MALDI-TOF MS profiling and have implemented new strategies to improve the quality of profiles and their analysis, particularly in the context of entomological and vector identification projects. Finally, recent Chinese studies have reported that COVID-19 was detectable in saliva by RT-PCR.

The main objective of this study is to develop a test based on the MALDI-TOF profiling method to detect individuals infected with SARS-CoV2 from saliva sample.

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Key information

Conditions

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Laveran

Marseille, 13013, France

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years of age;
  • screened for SARS-CoV2 by RT-PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab within 96 hours prior to inclusion.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patient admitted to intensive care;
  • Pregnant woman.

Treatment and study plan

Saliva collection

Biological

Saliva samples are regularly collected over a period of up to 30 consecutive days.

Clinical Assessment

Other

The participant's clinical data will be collected regularly over a period of up to 30 consecutive days.

Primary outcomes

  1. Development of a test based on the MALDI-TOF profiling method to detect individuals infected with SARS-CoV2 from saliva sample.

    Time frame: Day 30

    The development of this test is based on machine learning techniques, which involve "training" a mathematical model, in which the results of the mass spectrometry analysis of saliva samples and clinical data will be used to determine the information needed to distinguish a saliva sample from a SARS-CoV2-infected participant from a healthy saliva sample.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Rate of correct classification by the test (MALDI-TOF MS profiling) from saliva sample

    Time frame: Day 30

    For each saliva sample, the status ("correct" or "incorrect") of the classification of the sample ("infected" or "not infected") by the test (MALDI-TOF MS profiling) will be determined. Then the rate of correct classification will be calculated. The test will be considered efficient when it has reached a correct classification rate of more than 95%.

  2. Rate of correct classification by RT-PCR from saliva sample

    Time frame: Day 30

    For each saliva sample, the status ("correct" or "incorrect") of the classification of the sample ("infected" or "not infected") by RT-PCR will be determined. Then the rate of correct classification by RT-PCR will be calculated.

  3. Identification of proteins specific to the SARS-CoV2 infection

    Time frame: Day 30

    On each saliva sample, the expression of proteins will be determined using mass spectrometry. By comparison between SARS-CoV2 infected saliva samples and non-infected saliva samples, the presence of proteins that are specifically expressed in SARS-CoV2 infected saliva samples will be determined.

  4. Presence of a positive anti-SARS-CoV2 antibody response by RT-PCR

    Time frame: Day 30

    On each SARS-CoV2 infected saliva sample, the presence of anti-SARS-CoV2 antibodies, by RT-PCR, will be determined.

  5. Correlation between the identified protein markers and the clinical course of the participants.

    Time frame: Day 30

    In SARS-CoV2 infected participants (Covid+ hospitalization group and Covid+ outpatient group), the presence of a correlation between the presence of proteins specific to the SARS-CoV2 infection and the clinical evolution of patients will be determined.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Direction Centrale du Service de Santé des Armées

Other

Registry information

Acronym: CoviDiagMS

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Jul 7, 2020
Registry last updated
Sep 6, 2023

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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