CompletedObservational

DIAMONDS-SEARCH study: Designing new tests that can diagnose the causes of fever, including COVID-19

Doctors often find it challenging to quickly identify what causes a high fever or sudden illness. Patients often face long waits, multiple scans, and blood tests while doctors search for the cause. Some patients even receive antibiotics they do not need, which do not work against viral infections. The DIAMONDS study aims to solve this with a fast, accurate blood test. When your body fights an illness, your genes switch on and off in unique patterns, known as 'gene signatures'. Viruses, bacteria, and inflammatory conditions all produce different signatures. Researchers are collecting blood samples from hospital patients of all ages who have fevers or infections, including COVID-19. By studying these genetic patterns, the team hopes to build a device that can diagnose illnesses in under two hours. Taking part involves giving a small blood sample and will not change your regular hospital care.

At a glance

Status

Completed

Sponsor

Imperial College London

Enrolment target

5,000

Start

27 Apr 2020

Estimated completion

31 Mar 2026

Patients with suspected infection or suspected inflammatory conditions including patients with suspected COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 infection)

What is this study about?

Having a high fever is one of the most common reasons people seek urgent medical help. However, finding the exact cause can be difficult. A fever could be caused by a simple virus, a serious bacterial illness, or an inflammatory condition. Currently, working out what is wrong can involve uncomfortable tests, such as spinal fluid checks, CT scans, and repeated blood draws. Patients often have to wait days or even weeks for answers, and they are sometimes given antibiotics just in case, which do not help if the illness is caused by a virus.

The DIAMONDS study is working to change this by designing a new test that delivers results in less than two hours. When your immune system detects an infection, your body's cells respond by switching specific genes on or off. This response forms a distinct 'gene signature' that acts like a fingerprint for that specific condition. Researchers have already shown that these signatures can spot bacterial infections with very high accuracy.

By collecting and studying blood samples from thousands of hospital patients across Europe and The Gambia, researchers are creating a large digital library of disease signatures. This library covers common infections, COVID-19, and inflammatory conditions. The long-term goal is to build small, portable testing devices. In the future, a single drop of blood could quickly tell doctors exactly what is making a patient sick, allowing them to start the correct treatment immediately.

Key takeaways

Aims to create a test that diagnoses the cause of a fever in under two hours.
Uses 'gene signatures' in the blood to tell the difference between viruses, bacteria, and inflammation.
Open to hospital patients of all ages with fevers or suspected infections, including COVID-19.
Requires only a small extra blood sample, usually taken alongside routine hospital tests.
Does not affect your current hospital treatment, but helps improve healthcare for future patients.

Who may be eligible?

This study is open to people of all ages, from newborn babies to older adults, who are visiting or admitted to a participating hospital. To be eligible, you must have a fever (a temperature of 38°C or higher in the previous 24 hours) or have symptoms that suggest an infection or an inflammatory illness.

Researchers are looking for people with a wide range of common symptoms. These include joint or muscle pain, unexplained tiredness, swollen glands, tummy pain, headaches, or unusual rashes. Patients with mild, moderate, or severe COVID-19 can also take part.

You cannot take part if you or your parent or guardian do not wish to give consent, or if the clinical team is unable to take the required blood sample. Because researchers approach patients directly in hospital, members of the public cannot apply to join this trial on their own.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you currently being treated in a participating hospital?
Have you had a fever (38°C or above) in the last 24 hours?
Do you have signs of an infection or an inflammatory illness (such as joint pain, rash, or extreme tiredness)?
Are you comfortable providing a small blood sample for medical research?
Are you (or your parent/guardian) willing to give informed consent to take part?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you are invited to join the study while in hospital, you will be asked to sign a consent form (or a parent or guardian will sign for children). Taking part mainly involves giving a small extra blood sample. To keep things as comfortable as possible, the hospital team will usually take this at the same time as your routine medical blood tests, meaning you will rarely need an extra needle prick.

You may be asked to provide a second sample later on when you are recovering. Your samples and medical details are safely stored and analysed later in a research laboratory. Because testing is done after the fact, the results will not change your immediate hospital treatment or medications. There are no extra clinic visits or long-term check-ups required specifically for this study.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part will not directly improve your health right now, as your samples are analysed after your hospital stay. However, your involvement could help future patients by leading to faster, less painful diagnostic tests. The physical risks are minimal; having blood taken may cause brief stinging or a small bruise. If researchers ever find an unexpected result in your sample that is important for your future health, your care team will contact you. Joining is completely voluntary, and you are free to withdraw at any time without your NHS care being affected.

Locations (28)

Imperial College London
Approximate
London, England
Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust
City only
London, England
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Approximate
London, England
University of Oxford
Approximate
Oxford, England
Liverpool University
Approximate
Liverpool, England
University of Newcastle
Unverified
Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
Aintree University Hospital
Unverified
Liverpool, England
Evelina London Children's Hospital
Unverified
London, England
Southampton General Hospital
Unverified
Southampton, England
Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital
Unverified
Brighton, England
Academisch Medisch Centrum, Universiteit van Amsterdam
Unverified
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Erasmus University Medical Center
Unverified
Rotterdam, Netherlands

Common questions

Can I volunteer to join this study from home?

No. The study team directly approaches eligible patients who have been admitted to or are attending specific participating hospitals.

Will taking part change my medical treatment?

No. Your samples are analysed in research laboratories later on, so the study will not alter the care, medicines, or tests you receive while in hospital.

Are children allowed to participate?

Yes. The study is open to patients of all ages, including infants and children, provided a parent or guardian gives permission.

Does the blood test hurt?

It feels like any standard blood test. Doctors and nurses will try to collect the research sample at the same time as your routine blood tests so you do not need extra needle pricks.

What happens if researchers discover something serious in my sample?

If the researchers find an important result that could affect your future medical care, your hospital clinical team will be notified so they can contact you.

How to find out more

Federico Martinón-Torres

Federico.Martinon.Torres@sergas.es +34 (0)981 955373 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.