Observational Research in Childhood Infectious Diseases (ORChID): a dynamic birth cohort study

Lambert, Stephen Bernard; Ware, Robert S; Cook, Anne L; Maguire, Frances A; Whiley, David M; Bialasiewicz, Seweryn; Mackay, Ian M; Wang, David; Sloots, Theo P; Nissen, Michael D; Grimwood, Keith

It would not be logistically or economically possible to conduct a study on this scale without using detection of influenza nucleic acid when compared to flocked swabs combined with a universal transport media. 70 We have found that return of specimens using surface mail did not result in reduced sensitivity when compared to immediate and maintained freezing of specimens, even over long distances. 37 Mailing specimens has also been shown to be an efficient means of communitybased research in other settings. 66 67 There remain diagnostic gaps in the identification of the causative agent in ARI and AGE. 33 34 We have been involved in the discovery and fuller description of newly identified pathogens from the human respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. 40 47 49 60 71-86 The ORChID study will allow us to link specimens negative for known pathogens with symptoms and illness impact data, enabling us to prioritise specimens for new pathogen discovery. As well as the real possibility of discovering new agents, the epidemiology of known viruses, including their interactions, 87 will be analysed.