FAQ for UMD Students

Does the COVID testing done as part of this study satisfy the campus requirement for a COVID-19 test?

Yes, the University Health Center has approved participation in this study as satisfying the testing requirement.

How much compensation is available for participating in this study?

If you had close contact with someone with COVID-19, you may be able to earn up to $110 by participating. If you get infected and come for more testing you can earn $300. The sooner you contact us the more you may be able to earn.

Alternatively if you are already infected and enroll as a case, you may be able to earn up to $275. Again, the sooner you contact us the more likely that you are eligible and the more you may be able to earn.

How do I receive the compensation?

We will provide compensation through a University issued debit card, a gift card or Terrapin Express account if you are UMD-affiliated. Compensation will be processed as soon as logistically possible, and may take up to 7-10 days.

If I was exposed to someone with COVID-19, is it really necessary to enroll in the study as soon as possible?

Yes, if the exposure was too long ago, we may not be able to enroll you, so it is important to contact us as soon as possible. Enrolling sooner also means you can earn more money, since we can ask you to come for more visits.

I’m in quarantine and I’m not supposed to go anywhere, can I still participate?

Yes! The University Health Center has approved participation in this study as an exception to the quarantine order. We have a specially equipped van that we will use to transport you back and forth from the quarantine apartment to our clinic at the School of Public Health.

If I live off campus, can I still participate in the study?

If you can get to campus to give samples at our clinic at the School of Public Health, you can participate in the study.

I live off campus and the 4Maryland daily symptom check says that I’m not cleared to come to campus. Can I still participate in the study?

Yes! We can give you a special clearance to come to the School of Public Health for COVID-19 testing even if you are not cleared by the 4Maryland symptom check. Contact us and we’ll tell you how.

What if I live off campus and don’t have transportation?

If you enter the study as a COVID-19-infected case or as an exposed contact and you live close enough to campus, we have a specially equipped van that we can use to transport you back and forth from the School of Public Health.

If you’re looking to join the daily survey & weekly saliva testing part of the study, that may be difficult without your own transportation since it requires regularly dropping off samples at the clinic.

Am I reported to the university if I participate in the study?

What you tell us remains confidential. If you test positive, we are required to give your name and email address to the University Health Center. Other than that, we don’t tell them anything.