Proof of Principle for a Diagnostic Blood Test of Recurrent Seizures (NCT02269397) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Proof of Principle for a Diagnostic Blood Test of Recurrent Seizures
United States371 participantsStarted 2013-07
Plain-language summary
The primary goal of this observational study is to establish the accuracy of CNS-specific Assay for Recurrent Paroxysmal Events (CARPE) as a diagnostic blood test for epilepsy. The target population is patients who have been newly referred to the Penn Epilepsy Center or patients who are admitted to HUP for continuous video EEG monitoring. (Subjects without an epilepsy diagnosis will be included.) Subjects will be asked to provide consent, agree to allow the study team to collect information from their medical record, and to provide at least one blood sample.
Who can participate
Age range
12 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Male/female patients aged 12 and older
* Evaluation in at least one of the following settings:
* Newly referred to the University of Pennsylvania Penn Epilepsy Center. These patients may not have completed any diagnostic evaluation at Penn, other than an initial physician consultation, prior to enrollment and must agree to allow the study team to collect records regarding their diagnostic evaluations (including EEG). Diagnostic evaluations may take place at Penn or outside sites
* All patients who are admitted to the University of Pennsylvania for continuous video EEG (cVEEG) monitoring
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients who, in the opinion of the investigator or the patients neurologist, are unable to give Informed Consent due to mental impairment or any other reason AND do not have a LAR who can give Informed Consent on their behalf. Patients aged 12-17 (inclusive) must provide assent if they are mentally capable of doing so, and must also have a caregiver who provides Informed Consent on their behalf
* Patients who, in the opinion of their neurologist at the University of Pennsylvania, are not good candidates for donating blood for any reason
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Epilepsy diagnosis (CARPE) blood test for determining the presence of epilepsy ad in doing so, determine the threshold for diagnosis