Case study: Participant wouldn't know she had COVID-19 if not for research trial

The Platform Randomised trial of INterventions against COVID-19 in older peoPLE (PRINCIPLE) trial is the first clinical trial of potential COVID-19 treatments to take place in GP practices.

Christine Bath from Bristol, signed up for the study in April 2020 through her GP practice, Westbury on Trym Surgery. She tells us about her experience of taking part.

"I received an email that my GP practice sent to over 50s asking if they’d like to sign up to the PRINCIPLE trial. I didn’t have any of the typical COVID-19 symptoms, like a temperature or cough, but decided to sign up because I’m always happy to help out with things like this.

"As part of the trial I received a test kit through the post, I sent it off on the Friday and the following Monday I received a positive result. I still felt fine. I had achy joints, but I do anyway because of arthritis. I did feel tired, but no more so than normal. The only thing that was unusual was I had sore eyes.

"The week after my positive test I was tested again and it was still positive. The following week my test results were negative, so they tested my blood and that showed that I had antibodies.

"If I hadn’t taken part in the study I never would have known I had COVID-19. I work in a care home and receiving this result meant I was able to self-isolate before anyone else caught it. We now get tested every week at work.

"This was my first time taking part in a research study and it was fine, I just had to take my temperature everyday and fill in a questionnaire about whether my symptoms were getting better or worse. For anyone else thinking about taking part in a COVID-19 study, I would say ‘go for it’. You’re not only helping yourself, but you’re also helping others. In a sense, you’re getting a free MOT check too."

The PRINCIPLE trial can be joined online or by phone from home without the need for face-to-face visits. You can find out more about the trial on the PRINCIPLE website.