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KEYWORDS

Pathogen – a germ (like a virus or bacteria) that can cause disease.
Screening – testing blood to check for potential infections after donation.
A banner of images representing codonet study including a mosquito, blood donation, computer and researchers

CODONEt project 

What is this research about?

We want to study the population to understand if new pathogens are starting to arrive and spread in England, particularly focussing on blood-borne infections since these can be transmitted by transfusion or transplantation. 

How might this research lead to change?

We hope that the findings of this study will contribute data on the current threat of these pathogens so that decision makers are better informed and can make decisions about whether or not it is necessary to implement new screening methods to prevent the transmission of these infections. 

 How are we doing it?

We are asking thousands of donors across England for consent to store a sample of their plasma and to complete a detailed questionnaire. In order to have a collection of donor plasma samples, along with details of each participants vaccination and travel history, and their possible exposure to animals, ticks or mosquitoes at home, at work or when out-and-about. This will provide a resource of well-characterised samples that can then be tested for evidence of exposure to a variety of newly emerging infectious diseases that may be starting to appear in the UK. We can also use the data collected in the questionnaire to determine if infections were acquired locally or through travel and to be able to identify risk factors and infection sources.

CODONET is an important research study for tracking new infectious diseases in England which can have a real impact in protecting public health. 

What have we done so far?

So far we have over 4000 consented participants, over 3000 completed questionnaires and over 1500 samples in the archive and these numbers are rapidly increasing.  One current focus is that of vector-borne infections, those that are transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes. Since climate change is driving increased geographical spread of these vectors, we have begun to see introductions of these species in England.  For the first time this year, West Nile Virus was found in English mosquitoes. We have currently began screening the samples and data from this study to establish if such viruses are becoming established in England.

 Who’s involved?

The CODONET study is large multi-organisational study across NHS Blood and Transplant,  University of Oxford and UK Health Security Agency.

CONTACT US

If you wish to get in touch, please email the study team at CODONET@NHSBT.NHS.UK

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