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CompletedNCT04581083Updated Oct 15, 2024

Validation of Laboratory Techniques, Strategies, and Types of Samples for Epidemiological Control in the Covid-19 Pandemic

An observational study in Covid19, sponsored by Hunter College of City University of New York. Completed at 1 site in Bolivia. Open to participants aged 21 Years to 64 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-10-15.

Sponsored by Hunter College of City University of New York · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Other
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
30
Ages
21 Years to 64 Years
Sex
All
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Study summary

This is a study of validation for diagnostic techniques used on epidemiological control in the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be carried out in accredited public, private and university clinical laboratories of the collaborator institutions of the project based in Tarija, Bolivia. It is designed as a sectional validation study, using samples from specific groups of participants from the municipality of Tarija grouped according to their category with respect to symptoms and viral load of COVID-19. The sample is selected for convenience.

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Conditions studied

  • Covid19

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Keywords

  • COVID 19
  • Bolivia
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques
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In context

COVID-19

7,990 studies on the registry are indexed under COVID-19; 466 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 30 is below the median of 268 across 3,208 observational studies indexed under COVID-19.

Browse COVID-19 studies →

Lead sponsor

Hunter College of City University of New York is the lead sponsor of 36 studies on the registry; 9 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
21 Years to 64 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Validation will be carried out using samples from volunteer adults from the municipality of Tarija, Bolivia, without gender restriction. Samples will be grouped according to the clinical classification determined above. These individuals will need to sign the informed consent form required to agree to be part of the study and provide their complete information or access to their medical history.

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Symptomatic: Subjects with signs and symptoms of respiratory infection less than or equal to 3 days, preferably with clinical and molecular diagnosis compatible with Covid-19.
  • Asymptomatics: Subjects who have had direct contact with people infected and who have not shown any symptoms related to Covid-19.
  • Negative: Individuals with negative RT-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 (reference test) who have not manifested any symptoms seven days prior to sampling.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria:

  • Adults under the age of 21 or over 65
  • Subjects with a clinical history of disease or chemotherapy treatments.
  • Subjects who have received transfusions or convalescent plasma in the last month prior to enrollment.
  • Subjects with prior diagnosis of other infectious diseases such as, but not limited to AIDS, or C, Tuberculosis, or any other ongoing or unresolved diseases.
  • Subjects with malformation or oncological pathology of the upper respiratory track that may hinder sample collection, including but not limited to deviated septum, allergic rhinitis.
  • Subjects who have not signed or can not sign the form
  • Subjects not able to provide their complete information or access to their clinical history.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(3)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

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Study design

Observational model
Other
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
30 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No
Biospecimen retention
Samples with dna

Groups and cohorts

  • Volunteer participants

    Samples of volunteer participants will be collected after informed consent and classified as symptomatic, asymptomatic and negative.

    Diagnostic Test: RT-PCR · Diagnostic Test: LAMP · Diagnostic Test: POOL RT-PCR · Diagnostic Test: POOL LAMP

Interventions

  • Diagnostic testRT-PCR

    RT-PCR (Gold standard): Real-time PCR testing with reverse transcriptase (RT-PCR). The test consists of a polymerase chain reaction that has previously had a reverse transcription phase, RT. This test allows the cADN (complementary DNA) to be obtained from a RNA chain. This technique allows the detection and amplification of a sequence from a strand of RNA.

    Also known as: Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

  • Diagnostic testLAMP

    LAMP: The LAMP technique, like PCR, has the ability to amplify specific DNA fragments (target sequence), allowing for highly sensitive detection of pathogens. Unlike pcr, LAMP requires between 4 and 6 feeders, external F3 and B3 feeders, which hybridte with the outer regions of the target sequence, while the internal FIP and BIP have sequences in both ways that allow the formation of a loop. The LAMP reaction is isothermal, i.e. it takes place at a single temperature. LAMP has been successfully used to detect viral diseases as well as viral pathogens such as West Nile virus, TMR-1, Norovirus, avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, among others.

    Also known as: Loop-mediated isothermal amplification

  • Diagnostic testPOOL RT-PCR

    POOL RT-PCR: This test aims to mix in a single sample the extractions obtained from several people. The joint sample is evaluated and, if negative, it is understood that all are free of COVID-19; if it is positive, an array system is used to detect the affected person. That is, a single PCR (polymerase chain reaction), the diagnostic test used to detect the virus pathogen is applied to a group and repeated individually if positive.

    Also known as: Pooled Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

  • Diagnostic testPOOL LAMP

    POOL LAMP: Like the RT-PCR pool test. This test essentially involves mixing in a single sample the extractions obtained from several people. This joint sample is tested and, if it is negative, it is understood that everyone is free of COVID-19; if it is positive, an array system is used to detect the affected person. That is: a single LAMP applies to a group

    Also known as: Pooled Loop-mediated isothermal amplification

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Validation

    Validate different molecular tests and sampling and sample type strategies used in epidemiological control of COVID-19 diagnosis in Tarija, Bolivia.

    Time frame: 1 month

Secondary outcomes

  1. RT- PCR (Saliva)

    Validate the use of molecular testing based on the PCR method using Saliva samples

    Time frame: 1 week

  2. LAMP

    Validate the use of the molecular test based on the LAMP method using saliva and nasopharyngeal samples

    Time frame: 1 week

  3. POOL PCR

    Validate the use of molecular tests with Pool PCR strategy using saliva samples

    Time frame: 1 week

  4. POOL LAMP

    Validate the use of molecular tests with Pool LAMP strategy using saliva samples

    Time frame: 1 week

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Study locations

1 site
  • Universidad Autónoma Juan Misael Saracho
    Tarija, 00000, Bolivia
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References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — We will share deidentified data

Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan, Informed consent form, Clinical study report, Analytic code

Time frame: Paper submitted for publication

Access criteria: Open

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 15, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04581083
Lead sponsor
Hunter College of City University of New York
Collaborators
Universidad Autonoma Juan Misael Saracho, Gobierno Autonomo Departamental De Tarija, SEDES - Tarija, CAINCO - Bolivia, Universidad Mayor de San Simon
Responsible party
Rodrigo Arce Cardozo (Adjunct Assistant Professor, Hunter College of The City University of New York) — Principal investigator
First posted
Oct 9, 2020
Start date
Oct 8, 2020
Primary completion
Oct 10, 2020
Completion
Oct 30, 2020
Last update
Oct 15, 2024

Study contacts

Kenji Shoji, PhD
principal investigator · Galapagos NV
Rodrigo Arce Cardozo, MD, MPH
study chair · City University of New York, School of Public Health

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Oct 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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