Procurement of blood collection kits for the UK Biobank study of seroprevalence of COVID-19

UK Biobank ("UKB") is conducting a study of seroprevalence of COVID 19 in the population of up to 20,000 of its participants and their adult children and grandchildren (the "Study"). The Study (which is funded for an initial period of 6 months by the Department of Health and Social Care) aims to collect blood samples from study participants each month for an initial period of six months and measure these samples to assess the extent of previous infection with the SARS CoV 2 coronavirus (by measuring blood antibodies) in different locations and age groups across the UK. In order to enable the Study, UKB needed a supplier to provide testing kits which could be mailed to study participants and safely returned to UKB's laboratory in Cheadle before testing. There was an urgent need to secure supply of kits (which are globally in high demand) to enable the study to go ahead without delay. Med DX were identified as a supplier who were able to provide these kits to enable the Study to commence within the required urgent timeframe.