ONS and Oxford University Covid test

[Superwoman]

Afternoon all,

Hope you are all well. Just a question I would like to ask of you all.

Has anyone on our forum been invited to take part in a 12 month study into Covid-19 virus by ONS and Oxford University to help out the best way to manage the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK.

The study aims to work out how many people have or had COVID-19 either with or without symptoms.

Everyone who takes part will be asked some questions and to provide a swab from the nose and throat which is fine but also some will provide a blood sample to see if they have antibodies, these tests will be done by a trained study worker at your home, who will have PPE and adhere to the 2mm rule.

Although I have been shielding since the end of February both myself and Hubby were both really unwell through January into February with what we thought then were a nasty bout of flu even though we both have had the jab.

My Haematologist said that as my platelets had gone up that I had some kind of infection and he felt that it could of been Covid and fought it off as they have started to come back down a bit at my last visit in June, but he did say that if they started to go back up at my next visit he will increase the Hydroxycarbamide.

Sorry long story short Maz, you might know do you think it’s a good idea to participate even though I have ET it would be good to know if I have had it and fought it off or not had it.

Jean x

[BeckyDing]

Hi

I would love to be part of this too if you do get the information - I was ill in March - not typical symptoms as such as no cough but shivers and slight fever, exhausted and bed ridden for 3 days, body aches and very dizzy - the friends I saw a week before at a kids birthday party were really ill around that time too but had coughs and were ill for over a week, both had antibody test since and both positive for covid. I am curious as to whether I go this and in particular with conversations about the amount of exposure you get matters in relation to how severe your illness is. It wouldn't change how I went about my day to day life at the moment but would be reassuring.

Thank you

Becky

[ourlife]

Hi Superwoman,

Our household was invited to be 1 of the 10,000 in the ONS survey, and we said yes.

I believe I have had Covid, I was extremely ill, thought it was game over on 3 separate occasions. A paramedic wanted me to go to hospital but I refused so was not officially tested, later blood tests showed a spike in my liver function consistent with a viral infection. My haematologist is sure it was Covid and being on Rux helped me pull through. I was hoping to be part of the anti body survey but we were put on the testing one, we all have been tested once a week for six weeks now monthly, I have also downloaded the Covid App and report on that to help out on a different study.

Good luck and stay safe,

Ourlife

[Superwoman in reply to ourlife]

Thanks for that, think We will go ahead.

Jean

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice in reply to Superwoman]

Hi Jean, I can see that you have decided to go ahead, that's brilliant. Best wishes, Maz

[Hopetohelp]

Yes we had an invite arrive through the door. I registered this morning and they will be in touch within the next two weeks to arrange tests