The MELODY (Mass evaluation of lateral flow immunoassays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in immunosuppressed people) study will use home antibody testing to understand how well immunocompromised patients respond to the Covid-19 vaccine.
The study is aiming to recruit people who have received solid organ transplants, people with rare autoimmune diseases and people who have had a diagnosis of blood cancer.
Who can take part in this study?
A random sample of 36,000 adults who have received a solid organ transplant, or who have been identified by the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) as someone who may have a rare autoimmune disease or a form of blood cancer are being invited to take part in the study.
If you are a solid organ transplant recipient, you can sign-up now by visiting the site (you need your NHS number) – CLICK HERE
People who have blood cancer or rare autoimmune diseases will be receiving personal invitation letters soon. The researchers have 36,000 antibody test kits for the MELODY study, which is enough to achieve valid results but not enough for everyone with these conditions to participate. Invitations are therefore going out to a random sample of those people who are eligible.
Who is running the study?
This research is being run by doctors and researchers at Imperial College London, NHS Digital, NHS Blood and Transplant, University of Southampton, University of Cambridge, University of Nottingham and Ipsos MORI.
The research is funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) in collaboration with health charities – Kidney Research UK, Blood Cancer UK, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, and our member charity Vasculitis UK.
What does the study involve?
The study involves completing a home COVID-19 self-testing antibody kit. Full instructions will be provided with the kit. There is no obligation to take the test if you agree to be sent it.
Once you have completed the test, you will be shown the outcome of the antibody test within 10 to 15 minutes, but please be aware that the results are not 100% accurate at an individual level. A positive test does not necessarily mean that you are fully protected from getting COVID-19 or passing on the virus, and a negative test does not necessarily mean you do not have antibodies that may provide protection against COVID-19. Whatever your test result, it is important that you continue to follow the current Government advice.
You will also be asked to complete two short surveys collecting information about you, your household and current health status. In the first survey you will be asked for your consent to take part and register for the study. In the second survey, sent after registering, you will be asked to take a photo of your test result and upload it as part of the survey. You will be asked to complete the survey even if you have not done the test.
You can learn more about how people are selected and invited in The MELODY Study Fair Processing Notice, here.
Additional information
The MELODY study Participant Information Sheet (PIS) can be downloaded here: MELODY PIS (.pdf)
Frequently asked questions, including information on GDPR and Ethics can be found here: https://ipsos.uk/antibodyFAQs
To contact the survey helpline, please contact Ipsos MORI via telephone (0800 819 9150) or email (UK-MelodyStudy@ipsos.com)