Data and sample access request

How to request

There are several working groups and platforms within the PHOSP-COVID governance structure. To ensure alignment with the study aims and mitigate duplication, researchers should contact the appropriate working group leads for initial contact and complete the Data and Sample Access Request Form. Access to all data and samples collected by PHOSP-COVID are approved by the Core Management Group and Executive board. For further details for requesting access please see supporting documents.

Please note, prior to accessing data researchers will need to provide evidence of Information Governance Training for all requiring access. The verified IG training which can be accepted are those provided by the MRC or ONS Safe Researcher Training which is an online trainer delivered course. To avoid data access delays its recommended to complete this training early on. For further details on Data and Sample access processes please see supporting documents.

What data is available

Please carefully read the clinical characterisation protocol here to see the dataset we will be obtaining (table 1 in protocol), and review the case report form and questionnaires here to understand the nature of clinical data that we collect before you submit a request. A data variable catalogue is available from the PHOSP-COVID team. Briefly, for Tier 2 participants we obtain the following data and samples at 3 months (2-7 months +/-2 weeks) and 1 year post discharge (+/- 2 months).

Data available

  • Demographics
    • age, gender, ethnicity, education, household income, disability, occupation, caring responsibilities
  • Co-morbidities
  • Presenting symptoms & vital signs
  • Treatment received including level of respiratory support
  • Complications
  • Co-enrolled studies
  • Pathology results
  • SARS-CoV-2 Swab PCR Results
  • Medications on discharge
  • Length of stay

1st & 2nd research visit

Clinical data

  • Vital signs
  • ECG findings
  • Chest XR findings (if performed for clinical reasons)
  • Ongoing symptoms (Patient Symptoms Questionnaire)

Questionnaires

  • MRC dyspnoea grade
  • EQ-5D-5L
  • Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7)
  • Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
  • Sarcopenia screen (SARC-F)
  • General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ)
  • Dyspnoea-12
  • Fatigue (FACIT)
  • Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) checklist (PCL-5)
  • Nottingham extended activity of daily living (NEADL)

Clinical Assessments

  • Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
  • Clinical Frailty Scale
  • Fried Frailty assessment
  • QRISK®3 score

Pulmonary function tests

  • FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio
  • TLCO, KCO
  • MIP (Max inspiratory pressure)
  • MEP (Max expiratory pressure)

Physical function and activity

  • Incremental Shuttle walking test
  • Handgrip and quadriceps strength
  • Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)
  • Physical activities monitors (for 2 weeks)

Body composition

  • Anthropometric measurements (weight, Height, BMI, waist circumferences)
  • DEXA or BIA results

Tier 2 Core Tests 

  • FBC, U&Es, eGFR, LFTs
  • CRP, Ferritin
  • Bone profile, 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH)
  • BNP/Pro-NT BNP, Troponin, Lipid profile
  • D Dimer, Fibrinogen, INR
  • HbA1C
  • Urine: albumin: creatinine ratio, protein: creatinine ratio, Urinalysis
  • Fasting samples: Glucose, Insulin

Blood samples

  • 5 ml citrate tube
  • 5 ml SST tube (Serum 1)
  • 5 ml SST tube (Serum 2)
  • 10 ml K2 EDTA tube (Plasma + cell fraction 1)
  • 6 ml lithium heparin (Plasma + cell fraction 2)
  • 6 ml K2 EDTA tube (Genomics)
  • 3 ml Tempus Blood RNA Tube (Transcriptomics)

Tier 2 Biological research samples

  • Oral rinse
  • Sputum
  • Urine

1st & 2nd research visit

Blood samples

  • 5 ml citrate tube
  • 5 ml SST tube (Serum 1)
  • 5 ml SST tube (Serum 2)
  • 10 ml K2 EDTA tube (Plasma + cell fraction 1)
  • 6 ml lithium heparin (Plasma + cell fraction 2)
  • 6 ml K2 EDTA tube (Genomics)
  • 3 ml Tempus Blood RNA Tube (Transcriptomics)

Current requests

Please come back for more information.

Publication Registry

Researchers are requested to enter their publications in the register on a regular basis and in a timely manner with a minimum of 14 days prior to submission. Researchers must provide draft of any publication (either via a peer-reviewed publication, a pre-print or a press announcement) to the Executive Board at least 14 days before the date for publication. To update the register download a copy and send updated version to PHOSP@leicester.ac.uk

All publications, presentations or other dissemination material produced within the scope of PHOSP-COVID must acknowledge the funding by UKRI/DHSC and the PHOSP-COVID Study Collaborative Group. For further details refer to the PHOSP-COVID publication policy

Download publication register template