Download TICK-BORNE INFECTIONS A Study into Potential Infections

TICK-BORNE INFECTIONS
A Study into Potential Infections transmitted
by ticks
PATIENT INFORMATION
DONATIONS of HUMAN BLOOD AND URINE FOR RESEARCH
Background
In recent years, public and government concern about the potential for tick-borne diseases in
people has increased considerably, with lobbying by patient advocacy groups, parliamentary
and senate hearings into Lyme-like disease illness and the establishment of a Clinical
Advisory Committee on Lyme disease (CACLD).
In research conducted for the first time in Australia we have characterized the diversity of
bacteria in Australian ticks removed from humans and animals. The aim of this study is to use
our next generation DNA sequencing techniques to investigate if these bacteria and any other
potential pathogens can be detected in samples from people with Lyme-like illness in
Australia.
What the Study will involve:
If you would like to be involved in this study, please do the following:
1. Visit your GP* and obtain a 10ml blood sample (5ml in an anticoagulant-treated
(EDTA) Vacutainer tube and 5ml in a clot tube) and a 30 ml urine sample (end of the
urine flow and preferably the second urine flow of the morning). The 10 ml blood
sample will be taken from a vein in your arm using a standard procedure.
2. Sign the consent form and answer the questionnaire provided.
3. Blood and urine samples will be couriered to Western Diagnostic Pathology in Perth.
You must provide the doctor or nurse with the Western Diagnostic Pathology
Request Form (also on our website) and this should be included with the signed
consent form and completed questionnaire.
*this will be at your expense.
If you contribute your blood and urine sample, it will be used in our research (dependant on
funding) and once the data has been analysed, the information can be sent to your GP if you
consent to this. It is important to note however that this is not a diagnostic service and
any blood or urine sample provided is for research purposes only.
Thank you for your assistance with this research. If you have any questions please email Dr Charlotte Oskam on
[email protected]
This study has been approved by the Murdoch University Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval 2016/035). If
you have any reservation or complaint about the ethical conduct of this research, and wish to talk with an
independent person, you may contact Murdoch University’s Research Ethics Office (Tel. 08 9360 6677 or e-mail
[email protected]). Any issues you raise will be treated in confidence and investigated fully, and you will be
informed of the outcome.
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