‘Disgusted by the incompetence’: Concerns raised over government’s pilot coronavirus antibody study

Exclusive: People taking part in survey say some testing staff lacked PPE and appeared to be poorly trained in taking samples, investigation reveals

Participants in a government coronavirus survey – which health secretary Matt Hancock said was “vital” to the pandemic response – have raised serious concerns about the way it is being carried out.

Those being studied for the Covid-19 infection survey say some testing staff lacked personal protective equipment (PPE), some staff appeared to be poorly trained in taking samples, and some failed to show up despite appointments. The complaints have been investigated by Liberty Investigates, an arm of human rights group Liberty.

The study aims to monitor the current rate of infection and find out how many people may have developed antibodies in the UK. Up to 300,000 participants are expected to be studied over 12 months.

Launched on 23 April, the first stage saw 10,000 households asked to take part, with participants providing a nose and throat swab to test. Adults in a smaller number of households were asked to provide a blood sample to see if they had developed antibodies.

The survey is billed as a representative study of the UK population and is being led by the Department for Health and Social Care and the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The University of Oxford, data science company IQVIA UK and the National Biosample Centre in Milton Keynes are also working on the survey.

When the study began, IQVIA’s capacity to cope with phone calls was limited and members of the public invited to take part said that they could not get through to make appointments. Since then, participants have made other complaints.

One participant told Liberty Investigates they had concerns about their own health after being visited by testing staff. Another said they made 77 calls to arrange appointments, with only one being fulfilled and three appointments being missed.

These are not isolated issues. Complaints made via social media to IQVIA, which is responsible for the doorstep data collection, show participants complaining about poor sample collection, systematic no-shows by testing staff, and a lack of test kits, resulting in missed appointments.

One survey participant, who did not wish to be named, said they waited for a first appointment and nobody turned up. When a second appointment was booked, the participant was “surprised and concerned that a nurse arrived at my doorstep without PPE, other than a pair of gloves, especially as she offered to come into my house and do the swabs”.

The participant added: “We had to stand close to receive the testing equipment and sign and return the consent forms. This nurse is going from household to household without any protection for herself or those whom she visits.”

The person taking part emailed their concerns to the team at the University of Oxford, the institution group overseeing the project, before the email was passed to ONS. The statistics body then replied stating that the nurse should have engaged in social distancing.

ONS’s deputy lead on data collection and tracking emailed the participant, promising to look into the case. The official said they were “concerned that you state you had to stand in close proximity to receive the swabs and sign the consent forms”.

They added: “There are clear guidelines that state the materials are to be bagged and left for the respondent to collect whilst the study health worker retreats to the requisite distance. I can appreciate why this made you anxious for the health of yourself, the study health practitioner and others.”

The paperwork given to all participants states: “The study healthcare worker will use all the recommended precautions to protect you and other people in your home from getting the virus. The study health worker will bring all the necessary equipment, including PPE with them to your home for a visit.”

No health worker turned up for the woman’s second test, which was supposed to be a week later – and she has not been contacted since.

The apparent failures raise concerns not only about communication, but the extent to which the data is useful if the weekly tests are not carried out as regularly as intended. Participants are supposed to be swabbed five times at weekly intervals, and thereafter every month for a period of 12 months.

Paul Beauchamp told The Independent about his experience taking part in the infection survey, describing it as “a bit of a shambles from the start” because the test worker “clearly had almost no training”.

He said: “I had two missed appointments and then this poor guy turns up without a clue how to do it. He asked me how he should take the swabs … gave me the wrong consent form and wasn’t initially wearing gloves [when he arrived].

“I’m absolutely not blaming him. It was clear he’d been asked to do a job for which he hadn’t been properly trained or equipped.”

Mr Beauchamp added: “Both my wife and I volunteered but he only had details for me so couldn’t also take samples from her. I was then told I’d get a call to make an appointment for the following week and have heard nothing a week later.”

David Wilkin, who also agreed to take part in the survey, said that he and his family had made four appointments. It took 77 phone calls to get through. After one no-show and several more calls, a nurse appeared, wearing a clinical mask and gloves. However, the second and third scheduled visits did not happen.

Mr Wilkin, who has now withdrawn from the survey, said: “I am absolutely disgusted by the incompetence. It is a sadly missed opportunity to collect important data. That opportunity has now been missed.”

Early results from the survey, based on 7,087 individuals, indicate that 0.24 per cent of the population has tested positive for Covid-19. More detailed results are expected on Thursday. Mr Hancock said in April that the study would provide “a vital part of our ongoing response to this virus”.

A spokesperson for the survey said: “Drawing on the proven research capabilities of highly experienced partners, this large collaborative study has been started at very short notice, during difficult and restrictive working conditions caused by the virus.

“We have published initial estimates of the number of people in England positive for Covid-19, based on thousands of swabs and bloods already collected from across the UK in less than a month.”

The spokesperson added: “We are unable to comment on individual cases but are aware that our partners are working hard to deliver at pace whilst ensuring PPE and health and safety standards are observed by staff during swab and blood collection appointments. These are essential to protect the public and our partner healthcare professionals.

“We’d like to thank everyone who has responded to our call to take part in this vital research. Over the coming months, the results of this work will be central to our understanding of how this virus spreads. By taking part they are helping with the international effort to understand and combat the impact of Covid-19.”