The study was conducted by the responsible researcher Åke Lundkvist, professor of virology, and his colleague Björn Olsen, professor of infectious diseases, both active at Uppsala University.
The researchers took blood samples for antibody testing from more than 450 friends and acquaintances to study the spread of the coronavirus.
The samples must have been taken in a meeting room in a tenant-owner association in Stockholm and according to the Board of Appeal for ethical review, there was no ethical permit for the study.
Violated the Ethics Review Act
The Board of Appeal for Ethical Review reported the study to the prosecution after it was concluded that it was in breach of the Ethical Review Act.
The researchers have stated that there was no intention to publish the results scientifically, but a compilation received a lot of media attention.
- It is the fact that a blood sample must be taken that makes a permit necessary.
An application has been made after the actual blood samples taken, as far as I understand, says chief prosecutor Micael Dahlberg to Läkartidningen.
If the researchers are convicted, the penalty can be a fine or imprisonment for a maximum of two years.
Both Lundkvist and Olsen are part of the group of researchers who have often criticized the Swedish Public Health Agency's strategy.
Sven Britton, professor emeritus in infectious diseases, has previously supported the antibody study and in a debate article in Svenska Dagbladet wrote that the researchers are worthy of praise, not prosecution.
SVT Nyheter is looking for Åke Lundkvist and Björn Olsen