None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of pharmacies participating in the surveillance of ILI circulating in the community in individuals aged 18 years and older. Procedures will align with the New Zealand sentinel General Practice (GP) surveillance programme, which invites individuals with symptoms of ILI to provide nasopharyngeal swabs for viral analysis at PHF Science. 200 adult participants will be swabbed at participating MRINZ Pharmacy Research Network (PRN) sites over a single 42-week surveillance period (August 2026 to May 2027), this study will assess the capacity of the community pharmacy platform to conduct community viral surveillance.
Interventions
The aim of this study is to provide information on the types of viruses causing influenza like symptoms in communities in New Zealand. Currently only certain GP practices and hospitals swab patients with influenza-like symptoms. The inclusion of pharmacies into the sentinel surveillance programme is novel and these results will tell us if pharmacy swabbing is an effective way of collecting this information.
Participation includes one single visit, Pharmacists will collect a single nasopharyngea
The aim of this study is to provide information on the types of viruses causing influenza like symptoms in communities in New Zealand. Currently only certain GP practices and hospitals swab patients with influenza-like symptoms. The inclusion of pharmacies into the sentinel surveillance programme is novel and these results will tell us if pharmacy swabbing is an effective way of collecting this information. Participation includes one single visit, Pharmacists will collect a single nasopharyngeal swabs from adults with the symptoms of an influenza-like illness. Swabs will be collected if participants meet the eligibility requirements and has given informed consent. The swab will be sent to New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) for testing for a panel of respiratory viruses including Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) RSV, Adenovirus, Enterovirus, Metapneumovirus, Parainfluenza and Rhinovirus. Pharmacists receive face-to-face training and competency assessment by a medical professional during site initiation and training.
Sponsors
Medical Research Institute of New Zealand
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Other
Primary purpose
Diagnosis
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Aged 18 year and over 2. Able and willing to give informed consent to participate 3. confirmed symptoms of influenza-like-illness (ILI), per the sentinel general respiratory surveillance programme: a. History of fever (subjective or measured) or a measured fever of ³38°C AND b. Cough, AND c. Acute onset in the past 10 days
Exclusion criteria
1. Nasopharyngeal or sinus condition such as a deviated septum or chronic rhinitis, which the investigator considers could impair ability to swab 2. Recent facial trauma (30 days) 3. Recent surgery to the facial region or upper airways, or clinical procedure such as bronchoscopy involving the nasal passages that could impair the ability to swab or any other reason, they are unable to have a nasopharyngeal swab taken 4. Recent surgery to the sinus/nasal passages (90days) 5. Chronic nasal blockage 6. Participation in the Sentinel General Practice Respiratory Virus Surveillance programme in the previous four weeks 7. Participation in this current study within the previous four weeks 8. Self-reported confirmed current COVID-19 infection 9. The pharmacist, GP, or other health advisor such as Healthline advises participant to be seen at their GP or afterhours service for urgent review and treatment
Outcome results
None listed