Archived appendix tissue survey

The aim of this survey is to collect and archive sufficient (up to 40,000) appendix samples so that 30,000 can be satisfactorily examined from participating pathology departments throughout England. These anonymous samples will be unlinked from any patient identifiable information and tested by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the presence of abnormal prion protein. This should enable the current estimate for the prevalence of subclinical vCJD infections to be refined. 

This study is being carried out within the TSE Laboratory at the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in Colindale, as well as at our collaborating laboratories: the Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases at the UCL Institute of Neurology (IoN) and at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA). Both of these collaborators have subcontracts with the HPA to carry out immunohistochemical testing of the appendix samples.

Archived specimens from appendectomies which took place between 2000 and the present day will be included in the study. Of the 30,000 samples to be examined, 20,000 samples will be from individuals born between 1961 and 1985 and 10,000 from those born between 1941 and 1960.

 This study began in April 2010 and is due to finish at the end of March 2012.