Collection of blood and other specimens for medical research

VRC 200: A Multicenter Specimen Collection Protocol to Obtain Human Biological Samples for Research Studies

This study is collecting blood and other samples from adult volunteers to help researchers learn more about infectious diseases and develop better vaccines.

Quick facts

• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 3000 (estimated)
• Ages: 3 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) (nih)
• Locations: 3 sites (Bethesda, Maryland and 2 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT00067054 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study collects various biological specimens, including blood, plasma, and skin samples, from adult volunteers to support medical research conducted by the NIAID's Vaccine Research Center. Participants may undergo standard procedures like phlebotomy or apheresis to obtain these samples, which will be used in studies related to infectious diseases, immune responses, and vaccine development. The study aims to gather a diverse range of specimens to facilitate research on diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, as well as to improve understanding of immune system functions.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 years and older who are willing to provide biological samples for research.

Not a fit: Patients with conditions that contraindicate specimen collection procedures may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance the development of vaccines and treatments for infectious diseases, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies involving specimen collection for immunological research have shown success, indicating that this approach is well-established.

Eligibility criteria

* INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR ADULT PARTICIPANTS:

A participant must meet all the inclusion criteria, as follows:

1. Age 18 years or older
2. Able and willing to complete the informed consent process
3. Willing to provide blood or other samples that will be stored indefinitely and used for future research
4. Able to provide proof of identity to the acceptance of the clinician completing the enrollment process; when informed consent is obtained by telephone or a telehealth visit, the investigator obtaining consent will also confirm proof of identity.

INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR CHILDREN:

1. Children aged 3 to 17 years inclusive, and at least 12 kg in weight.
2. Capability of the legal adult guardian of the child to understand and comply with the planned study procedures.
3. Capability of the legal adult guardian of the child to provide written informed consent.
4. Willing to have blood drawn or collection of urine, fecal samples, oral secretions, or swabs of mucosa that will be stored indefinitely and used for future research.
5. The legal adult guardian of the children can provide proof of identity for the child and for themselves to the satisfaction of the clinician completing the enrollment process.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS:

A participant will be excluded from protocol participation if there is presence of a condition that the attending physician considers to be a contraindication to the specimen collection procedures.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR CHILDREN ONLY

1. Acute or chronic illness that, in the opinion of the investigator or designee, precludes participation in the study.
2. Factors related to the legal guardian that, in the judgment of the investigator or designee, may affect the objective decision-making of the legal guardian.

SKIN BIOPSY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR ADULTS ONLY:

The skin biopsy eligibility includes the following:

1. Age 18 years or older
2. No known allergies to the local anesthetic to be used
3. No history of keloid formation
4. No known coagulation disorders
5. Not pregnant or breast feeding

APHERESIS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR ADULTS ONLY:

* To undergo an apheresis procedure, a participant must have no medical contraindications. All apheresis procedures performed under this protocol are solely for research purposes.
* Participants involved in an active clinical research protocol may participate in the apheresis protocol if the total amount of blood drawn does not exceed NIH guidelines or a site's institutional guidelines. A study clinician will complete a checklist for apheresis eligibility before referring a participant for apheresis.
* At the NIH, prior to the scheduled procedure, the participant must have a venous assessment performed by apheresis staff to determine suitability for apheresis.

For Healthy Volunteers:

A healthy volunteer must meet all the following criteria prior to the procedure:

1. Age 18 years or older
2. Afebrile (temperature \<= 37.50 degrees C)
3. Weight \>=110 pounds
4. Adequate bilateral antecubital venous access
5. Hemoglobin \>= 12.5 g/dL for women; \>= 13.0 g/dL for men within 56 days prior to apheresis procedure.
6. Platelets \> 150,000 K/uL within 56 days prior to apheresis procedure.
7. No cardiovascular instability as indicated by a) history of medically significant cardiac arrhythmia within the last 12 months, or b) ischemic cardiovascular disease within the last 12 months, or c) heart rate outside of the 50-100 beats/minute interval (on 3 successive readings), or d) blood pressure greater than 180 mmHg (systolic) or 100 mmHg (diastolic) on 3 successive readings
8. No current lung or kidney disease
9. No known coagulation disorder
10. No sickle cell disease
11. No active or chronic hepatitis
12. No intravenous injection drug use in the past 5 years
13. Not breast feeding
14. Negative beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) pregnancy test (urine or serum) performed by a VRC study clinician within 72 hours prior to the apheresis procedure

Patients with an Infectious Disease:

A patient with an infectious disease must meet all the following criteria:

1. Age 18 years or older
2. Weight \>= 110 pounds
3. Afebrile (temperature \<= 37.5 degrees C)
4. Adequate bilateral antecubital venous access
5. No cardiovascular instability as indicated by a) history of medically significant cardiac arrhythmia within the last 12 months, or b) ischemic cardiovascular disease within the last 12 months, or c) heart rate outside of the 50-100 beats/minute (on 3 successive readings), or d) blood pressure greater than 180/100 mmHg (on 3 successive readings)
6. No current lung or kidney disease
7. No known coagulation disorder
8. No receipt of clotting factor concentrates in the past 5 years
9. Hemoglobin \>= 9.0 g/dL within 56 days prior to apheresis procedure
10. Platelets \>= 50,000 K/uL within 56 days prior to apheresis procedure
11. White Blood Cell WBC \>= 2.0 K/uL within 56 days prior to apheresis procedure
12. Not breast feeding
13. Negative beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) pregnancy test (urine or serum) performed by a VRC study clinician within 72 hours prior to the apheresis procedure

Where this trial is running

Bethesda, Maryland and 2 other locations

• National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda, Maryland, United States (RECRUITING)
• EvergreenHealth Medical Center — Kirkland, Washington, United States (COMPLETED)
• University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus — San Juan, Puerto Rico (ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Lesia K Dropulic, M.D. — National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Study coordinator: OPS Team, VRC

Conditions: Sample Collection, Volunteer, Plasmapheresis, Leukapheresis, Immunology, Leukocyte, Natural History