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The IASO Sub-study
The IASO Sub-study
The IASO sub-study aims to learn more about SARS-CoV-2 reinfection and transmissibility
You must be currently enrolled in the IASO study
You must meet one of the following criteria:
Must be unvaccinated
Must be vaccinated with any vaccine EXCEPT Pfizer (i.e. Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca)
Must have a prior Covid-19 infection (regardless of vaccination status)
Participants in the IASO sub-study will, via self-collected nose swab, provide a respiratory sample once per week for 6 or 12 consecutive weeks. The choice of the time period is up to you. The nasal swabs used for the sub-study are less invasive than the standard COVID-19 tests and only require swabbing ~1 inch into your nostril.
Not every sample will be tested. Respiratory samples will be stored and backtested for two months if an individual becomes infected in that time. Results will not be shared since it will not be a clinical test. The sample can be dropped off at any MLabs blood draw location.
If interested, please reach out to the study staff at IASOStudy@med.umich.edu
You will receive swab kits by mail 5-10 business days after you consent to the sub-study
More kits will be mailed throughout your selected length of participation
An instruction sheet (linked here) will give detailed instructions on how to take a quality sample
You will use one swab to swab each nostril and place it into the provided tube
Label the tube with your name, date of birth, and the date you collected the sample. Please also record the collection date on the included Collection Card that will be dropped off along with the sample tube
Upon arrival to the MLab of your choice, please let the technician know you are there to drop off a nasal swab for the IASO Study
For a list of MLab locations and hours of operation, click here
1) What happens if I miss a week for vacation, illness, etc.?
You can send us an email to let us know, then continue your swabs the following week.
2) Do I need to do the sample the same day every week?
It may be helpful to do your sample the same day each week to help you remember, but it is not required for our study.
3) Should I drop it off the same day I swab myself?
Yes!
4) How many swabs do I use per week?
Only use one swab per week. One swab should be inserted into both nostrils. Only go back as far as you are comfortable! Refer to our instruction document (in your kit) for a detailed diagram.
5) Do the swabs need to be refrigerated?
No, please leave the swabs at room temperature.
6) I read your diagram, and I’m still not sure how to swab myself. What do I do?
Send an email to IASOStudy@med.umich.edu and one of our team members will be happy to provide additional instructions.
7) I found an old swab that I forgot to bring to the lab. Should I still take it to the lab?
If the swab is more than a week old, please discard it. We will count that as a missing swab.
8) My kit came with a small label and other items in the bag, am I supposed to do something with these?
The only items you need to use are the swab, the tube with the liquid, and the date card. Everything else in the small bag will be for the lab to ensure your samples are processed correctly. We’ve included a detailed diagram in the email if you have more questions about what is included and what you should use.
9) Something happened to my kit, what do I do?
Email or call us to let us know. Depending on what happened and the damage to the kit, we can mail you another one ASAP.
10) Help! I got my kit and I am missing one of the items on the checklist. What do I do?
Please contact our study team ASAP and we will send you the missing items.
11) Will my results be shared with OHS?
Your results will not be shared with OHS.
12) Will I get my results?
Not every sample will be tested. Respiratory samples will be stored and backtested for two months if a person seroconverts or shows a 4-fold rise in antibody titer on our research assay. Unfortunately, we cannot share the results of these tests with you. Results from backtesting of these samples will not be returned to participants as this will not be a clinical test.
13) What happens if I change my mind and do not want to participate?
Participation in this sub-study is completely voluntary and you may withdraw from this sub-study without any penalty. This will also not impact your enrollment in the larger study unless you desire to withdraw from IASO entirely.
14) Can I do more weeks than I signed up for?
Yes! Just send us an email, and we will have you update your consent form with the new number of weeks.
15) For the weekly questionnaires, does this count as a COVID test?
This would not count as a COVID test for your weekly questionnaire. Only answer yes if you have received testing or plan to receive testing outside of the sub-study.
16) I tested positive for COVID-19 outside of the sub-study. What do I do?
This will be handled the same as the main IASO study. Please contact OHS to get set up for serial swabbing or send us an email at IASOStudy@med.umich.edu.