Coronavirus research: Frequently asked questions

In 2020, around 20,000 UK Biobank participants and their children and grandchildren kindly agreed to help UK Biobank undertake urgent research on the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Each participant was asked to provide six monthly blood samples using a kit sent to their home and to complete a short questionnaire about possible symptoms of COVID-19.

The blood samples and symptoms information that were collected provided UK Biobank with vital data about the extent of previous infection in different regions across the UK and how this changed over time. The results of this study are available here. In summary, these data showed that the extent of previous infection was highest in those who lived in London, who were younger and of black and ethnic minority background, and that the majority (88%) of participants still retained detectable levels of antibodies at least six months following infection.

We would now like participants in this study to provide a seventh sample and to complete another survey looking at possible COVID-19 symptoms since November 2020 (when the last blood samples were collected for this study). The primary objective of this study is to determine the persistence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 infection over a 12 to 18-month period in a heterogeneous sample of the UK population.

1. You will be sent a blood sample collection kit through the post. The kit is small enough to fit through the letterbox.
2. When you receive the kit, do not dispose of the box – it is required to send your sample to the laboratory. Please open the kit and read all the instructions (on both sides of the sheet) carefully. A short video showing you what is in the kit and how to use it can be found here. You may find it helpful to watch the video before you start.
3. You will need to puncture your finger with the finger-prick device (called a lancet) which is provided, and then collect about 10 drops of blood (which is about 0.5ml or 1/10^th of a teaspoon) in the small tube provided, ideally at least up to the line marked 400µl.
4. When you have collected the sample, please complete the return form, label the tube and return it with any used and unused lancets in the pre-paid envelope provided in the kit. Please post in a post box, not over the counter at a post office.
5. The sample is returned to one of the kit manufacturer’s appointed laboratories, where they will test your blood and send the result to UK Biobank.
6. You should try to complete your online symptoms survey on the same day that you collected and posted your sample. The survey can be accessed by clicking on the link in your kit despatch email or by logging in to the participant website at ukbiobank.ac.uk/members and clicking on ‘Symptoms survey’.
7. UK Biobank will add your results to the UK Biobank resource for use in COVID-19 research.

No, providing this further sample for the study is entirely voluntary. However, every person that takes part will help us to collect vital information for COVID-19 research.

If you decide that you no longer wish to provide blood samples, please let us know by clicking on this link and following the on-screen instructions.

This study is not looking at current infection levels. Instead, the main area of interest is how long antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 infection remain in the blood. To investigate this, researchers therefore require test results from a range of people regardless of whether they have had symptoms of COVID-19.

Yes please. So that we can make sure that the UK Biobank resource is maximally useful to researchers, we would like as many people as possible to provide this sample. Even if you have previously obtained a positive result on a COVID-19 test (using a swab that was sent to a laboratory), we would still like you to take part and use the blood sampling kit that we send to you.

Yes please. Since we are looking at change in antibody status over time, and to ensure that the UK Biobank resource is maximally useful to researchers, we would like as many people as possible who took part in last year’s coronavirus study and supplied monthly samples to return a final sample at this time point.

Yes. Taking part in another study will not affect your ability to take part in UK Biobank’s coronavirus research.

Yes. Vaccines enable your immune system to create antibodies, but some of the antibodies produced in response to the COVID-19 vaccines are different to the antibodies produced when you have been infected. This antibody test ONLY checks whether you have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (i.e. it does not detect antibodies produced following a vaccination).

Yes. It is fine to provide your sample if you have COVID-19, but do not feel under pressure to provide your sample if you feel too unwell to do it. Please provide it at your earliest convenience.

We advise that people with certain conditions do not take a blood sample. These are:

• participants with untreated clotting or bleeding disorders
• participants who have had a recent mastectomy and there is swelling of the arm.

If you have had an operation to remove lymph nodes (e.g. a mastectomy), avoid pricking your finger on this side. If you have had a bilateral mastectomy, please contact your GP to confirm whether it is safe for you to take part.

Yes, in general. We want to include as many participants as possible. The blood sample collection is not suitable for use by anyone who has an untreated blood coagulation disorder. However, the amount of blood that needs to be collected is small (about 10 drops or 1/10^th of a teaspoon) so if you are taking anti-coagulant medication, the collection procedure provides no greater risk than other similar finger-prick tests.

The blood sample collection is not suitable for use by anyone who has an untreated blood coagulation disorder. However, the amount of blood that needs to be collected is small (about 10 drops or 1/10^th of a teaspoon) so if you are taking anti-coagulant medication, the collection procedure provides no greater risk than other similar finger-prick tests.

Yes.

Yes.

The study is only open to UK Biobank participants and their children and grandchildren aged 18 or over who participated in the study in 2020. If your spouse/partner is a participant in UK Biobank but did not receive an invitation to participate in this study last year, they cannot join the study now.

If you receive a kit to take a blood sample, this must not be completed by anyone else. If you do not want to provide a blood sample after receiving the kit, please dispose of it safely and do not pass it on to anyone else.

To dispose of the kit without having used it, please:

• press and click any unused finger-prick devices (called lancets);
• place all of the test kit items into the specimen transport bag supplied;
• put all the kit contents back into the box and then into the mailing bag;
• dispose of the kit with your regular household waste; and
• keep out of reach of children and pets.

For the study findings to be useful, it is important that the blood sample is only provided by the participant to whom the kit was sent so that we can incorporate the results with the existing data that we hold on them for research purposes.

No. In order for the information we gather during this study to be useful to researchers, it is important that everyone involved uses the blood sampling kit that we send them. If you were involved in the UK Biobank’s antibody study that used either the lateral flow kits (where the test was done at home) or the Thriva kit (where the blood sample was sent to the lab), we would still like you to participate in this study so that we have additional information on as many participants as possible during the same time period.

If you decide that you do not want to provide a further blood sample, please let us know by clicking on this link and following the on-screen instructions.  

If your kit has already been despatched (i.e. you have received our email notifying you that your kit is on its way) or you have already received your kit, please dispose of it in your general waste following the instructions in the kit. Ignore any reminders from us to return your blood sample that you may receive.

The Thriva Coronavirus Antibody Test is a laboratory-based assay that checks for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in capillary blood. The test requires a blood sample, obtained using a finger-prick sampling kit.

When a person is infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, their body makes antibodies in response to several viral proteins, including nucleocapsid (N) and spike (S) protein. The vaccines currently approved for use in the UK only trigger antibodies against spike (S) protein.

The laboratory test being used in this study detects antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein which are only produced following infection, so a positive test result will tell us that you have previously been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

The kits were donated to UK Biobank by the Department of Health and Social Care.

No. As with previous blood samples provided for this study in 2020, your test results will not be sent to you, your doctors or anyone else - this is in accordance with the consent you provided when you agreed to take part in this study in 2020.  Samples are being collected for research purposes only. If you are worried about having COVID-19, you should follow the current government/NHS guidance about obtaining a diagnostic test or call 111.

The Roche laboratory test being used has been validated on finger-prick blood samples. It has a 99.5% sensitivity (i.e. it gives a positive result correctly 99.5% of the time when there are antibodies present) and 99.8% specificity (i.e. it gives a negative result correctly 99.8% of the time).

There will be no monetary benefit or direct feedback of any results to you as a result of taking part in this study, but your participation will help scientists worldwide to perform research into COVID-19.

It may take us a few weeks to send you a kit so we will email you before it is despatched to let you know when to expect it. If you have not received your kit within 14 days of your email notifying you that your kit is on its way, you can request another one by logging in to the UK Biobank participant website and clicking on ‘Request new kit’.

Your test kit will be delivered to your home by Royal Mail.

Please log in to the UK Biobank participant website and click on the ‘Contact Details’ button to update your details. If you are unable to access the participant website, please call our Participant Resource Centre on 0800 0 276 276 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm).

The kit should ideally be delivered to a secure letter/parcel box where possible. Unfortunately, we are unable to take specific delivery instructions.

Yes. The kits are designed to fit through a standard letterbox, and do not require a signature on delivery.

We will be sending kits out throughout November and December. If you will be away for a short period during this time, there is no need for us to send the kit elsewhere; simply provide the blood sample as soon as possible on your return. You do not need to tell us about this.

If you will be away for the whole of this period, please log in to the UK Biobank participant website and provide us with an alternative UK postal address as soon as possible. If your kit has already been despatched to your home address, please provide an address to which your kit should be sent and click on ‘Request new kit’ to request a replacement kit be sent to this temporary address. Please remember to update your postal address when you return home.

Unfortunately, we do not deliver test kits to addresses outside of the UK because the sample would not get back to the laboratory sufficiently quickly.  

No but if you are unable to take your blood sample when the kit arrives, please do so at your earliest convenience.

Please collect the blood sample and post it to the laboratory on the same day. You can take the blood sample at any time of the day.

Please aim to take your sample within a week of receiving your kit. You can collect your sample on any day Sunday to Friday, although we recommend taking your sample on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday to reduce the effect of postal delays (thus reducing the chance of a void sample). Do not collect or post your sample on a Saturday as it might be in the post for too long.

To allow the laboratory to process samples efficiently, we would be grateful if you would collect the sample within one week of receiving your kit and return it on the same day that you collect the sample. We may send you a reminder if you have not returned your sample within four weeks of receiving your blood sample collection kit.

We recommend using your kit as soon as possible after receiving it. If you are not ready to use it when it arrives, please store it in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. We recommend leaving your kit somewhere in view, so that you remember to do it.

No. The test can only be used by the person it is addressed to. If you are nervous of needles, please do not worry as you will not see any during the collection process. You could ask someone to help you take the sample.

If you decide that you do not wish to take the sample, please dispose of the kit safely as detailed in the instructions. Please do not return the kit to the laboratory.

No. Unlike some blood tests, you do not need to fast and you can do this test at any time of day.

Yes. Being hydrated is the best thing you can do to prepare for the test and to make it easy for you to collect your sample.  Please aim to drink a minimum of six to eight glasses of water the day before, and at least two glasses 30 minutes before collecting your sample.

Please give yourself about 30 minutes to prepare, set up and collect your sample.

To make the process of collecting your blood sample as straightforward as possible, please follow these steps:

• Drink a lot of water (six to eight glasses) the day before you collect your sample, and at least two glasses 30 minutes before you collect your sample.
• Set aside enough time: you will need about 30 minutes to prepare, set up and collect your sample.
• Double check that the kit is addressed to you.
• Open the kit and read all of the instructions (on both sides of the sheet) carefully.
• Watch the short video (available here) showing you what is in the kit and how to use it before you start.
• Lay out all of the contents of the kit on a table or surface to check that nothing is missing then set up the equipment as per the instructions. Please make sure you take the lid off the blood collection tube before you start.
• Do some light exercise (e.g. swing your arms and clench your fist) for a minute – if safe for you to do so – to help get your blood moving.
• Wash your hands with soap (this can be liquid or bar soap) for 20 seconds and dry them with a clean towel.
• Put the hand from which you plan to collect the blood sample in a bowl of warm water (such as bath water temperature) for two minutes.
• Stand up for the whole process, keeping your hand lower than your elbow to keep the blood flowing (but be prepared to be able to sit down if you feel faint).

Please refer to the kit instructions for full details of how to obtain the blood sample. Someone else in your household may also be able to help if you are having trouble. If you require any guidance on obtaining the blood sample, it may help to watch this video which shows the collection process.

No. Unless you are assisting another participant to obtain the blood sample, no personal protective equipment is necessary. We are unable to supply PPE.

Yes, please visit the study webpage on how to take a sample where you will find a copy of the instructions and a video showing how to obtain your blood sample.

Yes. Before you do this, please ensure that you have checked your kit carefully against the list of kit components given in the instructions provided. If any items are missing from the kit and you are unable to collect your sample, please log in to the UK Biobank participant website and click on ‘Request new kit’ to request a replacement and provide us with details of the problem.

If you have already requested a replacement kit and your new kit is defective, please call us on 0800 0 276 276.

Yes. If you need a new kit, please log in to the UK Biobank participant website and click on ‘Request new kit’ to request a replacement kit and provide us with details of the problem.

If you have already requested a replacement kit and your new kit is defective, please call us on 0800 0 276 276.

If there is a problem with your kit that prevents you from taking the blood sample, a replacement kit can be requested by logging in to the UK Biobank participant website and clicking on ‘Request new kit’. You can also provide us with details about the problems that you encountered with your kit. If you have already requested a replacement kit and your new kit is defective, please call us on 0800 0 276 276.

If you had an adverse reaction, were harmed as a result of taking the sample or had any other problems that did not require you to request a new kit, please contact our Participant Resource Centre on 0800 0 276 276.

If you injure yourself while taking your blood sample, please call 111 for non-emergency medical advice or 999 for an emergency.

To get your blood pumping, you can first try to do some movements, such as swinging your arms, clenching and releasing your hand, star jumps, skipping on the spot or whatever you feel able to do for a minute. Please ignore this step if it is not safe for you to do such activities.

You can then put the whole of your hand from which you intend to collect the blood sample in a bowl of warm water (such as bath water temperature) for two minutes to encourage blood flow prior to starting the blood collection process.

Please stand up for the whole process (unless you feel faint). While trying to obtain the sample, your hand should be below your heart and lower than your elbow at all times to help the blood flow more easily. Standing at a low table can make it easier to angle the blood into the tube.

Please do not attempt to prick your finger with anything other than the lancet device provided.

We do not recommend collecting blood from any other part of your body.  Please read the instructions carefully to maximise the chance of taking blood successfully from a finger prick. Three devices to collect blood will be supplied in case the first attempt fails or yields an insufficient sample.

Please do not attempt to prick your finger with anything other than the lancet device provided.

When using the lancet, you will feel a small sharp pricking feeling. For further guidance on how to collect the blood sample, please watch the instruction video here.

If you are nervous of needles, please be reassured that you will not see any needle before or after using the lancet. However, if you do not like the idea of doing it yourself, you can always ask a family member or friend to collect the blood sample from your finger.

Please do not attempt to prick your finger with anything other than the lancet device provided.

The test involves using a lancet to prick the tip of your finger to collect about 10 drops of blood for testing (about 1/10^th of a teaspoon). The laboratory requires the tube to be filled at least to the line marked 400µL, but it is even better if you are able to fill it to the 600µL line.

If you are struggling to obtain enough blood and it is taking you more than two minutes to fill a tube, it is better to start the process of warming your hand and doing some movement again from the beginning. You could also try using a new lancet on a different finger.

If you have used all of the lancets provided and you are still not able to obtain the minimum amount of blood, please do not return this kit. Instead, please request a replacement kit by logging in to the UK Biobank participant website and clicking on ‘Request new kit’. If you have already requested a replacement kit and your new kit is defective, please call us on 0800 0 276 276.

If you have managed to get blood into the tube up to the line marked 400µL, please post your sample to the laboratory. However, if you have not been able to collect that much blood, please dispose of the sample and equipment safely as per the instructions then request a replacement kit by logging in to the UK Biobank participant website and clicking on ‘Request new kit’.

If you have already requested a replacement kit and your new kit is defective, please call us on 0800 0 276 276.

If you have used all of the lancets provided and have not been able to collect any blood, do not worry. Please do not return your kit. Instead, dispose of it safely as per the instructions then log in to the UK Biobank participant website and click on ‘Request new kit’ to receive a new kit if you would like to try again.

If you have already requested a replacement kit and your new kit is defective, please call us on 0800 0 276 276.

No. Once you have begun to collect your sample, you need to complete the process.

Each tube contains a gel which stabilises your blood sample for up to a week. Do not worry if the blood solidifies once you have placed it into the tube and turned it upside down to mix it; this is supposed to happen.

No. If you wash the tube out, you will interfere with the gel in the tube which stabilises the blood sample while it is in the mail. Once you have begun to collect your sample, you must complete the process. If you do not, you may prevent the laboratory test from working.

To send back your sample, the tube should contain at least 400µL of blood. If you still have some unused lancets left, you can continue to collect the rest of your sample by pricking another finger if your blood has stopped flowing from the original site. Provided you have collected enough blood to fill the tube to the 400µL line, the sample can be returned.

If you have lost all the blood and cannot collect any more, please dispose of the sample and equipment safely as per the instructions. If you would like to try again, please log in to the UK Biobank participant website and click on ‘Request new kit’ to request a replacement kit and provide us with details of the problem. If you have already requested a replacement kit and your new kit is defective, please call us on 0800 0 276 276.

No – you should only use the equipment provided in your kit.

No – all of the lancets are the same and are suitable for collecting a fingertip blood sample. Please refer to the instructions and online video for details about how to use the lancets.

Please place both the used and unused lancets into the plastic bag with your completed blood sample and return them to the laboratory in your sample packaging.

Please follow the instructions in your kit and send the lancets back with your sample.

In the unlikely event that you injure yourself or feel unwell, please seek medical attention. Use the NHS 111 online service or call NHS 111. For a medical emergency, dial 999.

If you had an adverse reaction or were harmed as a result of taking the sample, or had any other problems that did not require you to request a new kit via our participant website, please let us know by contacting our Participant Resource Centre on 0800 0 276 276.

This is very unlikely to happen - the lancet blade retracts inside the plastic casing after use so you should not see it at any point while you are collecting your sample. It is common for the fingertip blood test site to become red or bruised and a little sore for a few days. If this continues for more than 10 days, we recommend that you contact your GP. Please also notify our Participant Resource Centre of your concerns on 0800 0 276 276.

Yes. Please log in to the UK Biobank participant website  and click on ‘Request new kit’ to request a replacement kit and provide us with details of the problem. If you have already requested a replacement kit and your new kit is defective, please call us on 0800 0 276 276.

We are unable to tell you exactly what you did wrong but the main reasons for the lab reporting a void sample are:

      1. There is not enough blood in the tube.

Taking time to prepare in advance of taking the sample can help increase blood flow. This includes drinking plenty of water, putting your hands in a bowl warm water for a few minutes, doing some light exercise (move around, go for a walk, etc.) and making sure your hand is below your heart when taking the sample.

       2. The blood has haemolysed (clotted).

This can happen for a number of reasons, including if sample collection was prolonged or difficult and the finger was squeezed or ‘milked’, if the sample was shaken vigorously or if the sample was delayed in the post.

       3. The sample tube was not labelled, or was incorrectly labelled.

The sticker you need to use is in the colourful border and has a mini QR code on it. It has “SAMPLE LABEL ID” written underneath it, and “Peel off the tube label and wrap around tube” written above it.

If you have received an email telling you there was a problem with your sample, you will automatically be sent a replacement kit so that you can submit another sample for analysis if you are willing to do so.  

Please complete the following steps before posting your sample:

1. Mix the tube by turning it upside down at least 10 times.
2. Peel the remaining small tube label with the colourful border from the return form and wrap it around your tube. Make sure the printed QR code is clearly visible.
3. Follow the instructions sheet on putting the tube and your used and unused lancets into the clear plastic bag.
4. Write the date and time that you took your sample on the return form (do not write anything else on this form).
5. Put the completed return form and plastic bag (containing your tube and lancets) into the box that your kit arrived in and close it.
6. Put the box into the pre-paid plastic mailing envelope and then mail it as soon as possible.

If you do not do all of the above, the laboratory may not be able to process your sample.

If there is no return form or the plastic return envelope is missing, you will be unable to send your kit back and you should dispose of the kit safely as per the instructions. Please request a replacement kit by logging in to the UK Biobank participant website and clicking ‘Request new kit’.

If you have already requested a replacement kit and your new kit is defective, please call us on 0800 0 276 276.

There is space for three stickers on the return form. Two have already been used as your kit was being assembled. The sticker you need to use is in the colourful border and has a mini QR code on it. It has “SAMPLE LABEL ID” written underneath it, and “Peel off the tube label and wrap around tube” written above it.

Please make sure you have labelled your tube and put it, together with your used and unused lancets, into the specimen bag. Then place these and your completed return form into the box your kit arrived in. This should then be put into the pre-paid plastic envelope.

Post your sample back to the laboratory on the same day that you took it. Although you can collect the sample on any day (apart from Saturday), we recommend taking and posting it on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday to reduce the effect of postal delays (thus reducing the chance of a void sample). Please do not collect or post your sample on a Saturday as it might be in the post for too long.

Using a Royal Mail priority postbox will further limit postal delays – these have NHS logos on them and you can find your nearest one here. These post boxes have the most frequent collections but if you do not live near a priority post box, please use a regular one.

Please do not take your sample to a post office to post it over the counter as they are not able to accept COVID-19 related packages.

Do not collect your sample on a day when the outside temperature is above 25^oC.

You should post your sample back on the same day that you took it. If you are unable to do this, please store the sample at room temperature and put it in the post the very next day. It is best to post your sample back on a weekday - ideally Monday to Wednesday - to avoid delays in the mail over the weekend. Please post it back in a post box, not over the counter at a post office as they are not able to accept COVID-19 related packages.

It is best that the sample is not exposed to extreme temperatures. We recommend that you keep your sample in your house overnight and then post it the next morning. Please do not put your sample in the fridge – store it in a cool, dry place.

Please post it back in a post box, not over the counter at a post office as they are not able to accept COVID-19 related packages.

If you have sent your sample back, do not worry; the lab will test it if it is a viable sample. If it is not viable, we will let you know and automatically send you a replacement kit so that you can submit another sample for analysis if you are willing to do so. Please note that if you also receive a void result for your second sample, we will not be able to send you a further replacement blood sampling kit. 

• All lancets (used and unused) should be posted back to the laboratory along with your blood sample, in the plastic bag and cardboard box provided.
• Dispose of all other kit items with your regular household waste.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets.

In this study, Thriva Limited are responsible for kit distribution and antibody testing. 

Pura Diagnostics, Eurofins County Pathology and Medicines Discovery Catapult are Thriva’s appointed laboratories responsible for testing all of their samples. These laboratories do not receive any information about who the samples belong to, either from Thriva or from UK Biobank. It is important that you do not include your name, contact details or any other personal information on your return form when you send your sample to the laboratory.

No, it is not necessary to complete this address information. If you have already completed it and returned your envelope to the laboratory, please be assured that the laboratory will destroy the envelope and any contents once the sample has been removed.

If you have provided UK Biobank with a mobile phone number, you will receive a text message once your sample has been processed by the laboratory.

The online symptoms survey can be accessed by clicking on the link sent to you in the despatch email, or by logging in to the participant website at www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/members and clicking on ‘Symptoms survey’.

No, the side effects of your COVID-19 vaccine should not be included on your survey.

Please try to complete the online symptoms survey on the day that you provided and posted your blood sample. If you cannot do it on the same day, please do it as soon as possible.

No. We are unable to provide a paper copy of the symptoms survey.

As with previous blood samples provided for this study in 2020, your test results will not be provided to you, your doctors or anyone else - this is in accordance with the consent you gave when you agreed to join this study in 2020.

Samples are being collected for research purposes. If you are worried about having COVID-19, you should follow the current government/NHS guidance about obtaining a diagnostic test.

The UK Biobank coronavirus infection study (which involved using the Thriva test) was a confirmatory follow-on study to UK Biobank’s home-test antibody study.  The latter involved using a lateral flow device which meant participants were provided with their result at the time of taking the test. It was therefore appropriate for participants of the confirmatory follow-on study to receive the result of the laboratory test and consent for this was requested when you joined that study.

By contrast, UK Biobank took its standard approach to feedback of results for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus research in 2020, and all participants consented on the understanding that results would not be returned to them. This also applies to the collection of this final sample.

Upon completion of the test, your blood sample and any residual material will be destroyed in accordance with local waste disposal protocols.

The way in which UK Biobank collects, shares and uses your information is explained on our website.  This includes an explanation of the way in which we protect your data and remove any personal identifiers before making any data available to researchers.  For the purposes of this SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus research, we have appointed Thriva Limited as a third party data processor. At the end of this study, Thriva will delete any personal data that they have processed about you. 

Your test result, survey results and related information will be kept by UK Biobank for many years. They will be provided in a de-identified form (such that no participant can be identified from their data or test result) to approved researchers for medical and other health-related research (including scientists working in other countries and in commercial companies).

We keep any information that might identify you (such as your name and address) separately from other information about you in our database.