The NIH is collecting blood samples from volunteers, with the goal of quantifying the incidence of undetected coronavirus infections.

I have emailed them saying I want to participate, because it's something I can (probably) do, unlike most medical studies. It involves drawing a blood sample and sending it back to them in the mail (unless you live in Bethesda, MD, in which case they'd like you to come in and have them take the sample).

A lot of studies want healthy volunteers, or people not on any prescription drugs, which absolutely makes sense, and rules me out. This one is looking for people who are at least 18 years old, who haven't had COVID-19, and are comfortable taking a blood sample at home; that last probably rules out a lot of people.

It sounds like participants will get their test results, but not quickly. And you have to be okay with having the NIH store a sample of your blood.
julian: Picture of the sign for Julian Street. (Default)

From: [personal profile] julian


It sounds like you have to remember to ask them, eventually, but either way I'm good with that. (And don't mind the NIH having my blood. The Red Cross already does.)
minoanmiss: A detail of the Ladies in Blue fresco (Default)

From: [personal profile] minoanmiss


Ooh! I have plenty of blood, I can spare some for science.
May I sigboost this using the sigboost posting convention?
otter: (Default)

From: [personal profile] otter


I hope they learn useful things. Soon.
gingicat: deep purple lilacs, some buds, some open (Default)

From: [personal profile] gingicat


It's a finger lancet, not a syringe, so that hopefully makes the barrier lower.
hrj: (Default)

From: [personal profile] hrj


I've emailed them to volunteer and I'll spread the word. I did have a brief moment at "take your own blood sample" where I thought "well, that'll cut down on the volunteers!" but it sounds no different than doing self-monitoring for blood glucose. (Mind you, I was a phlebotomist in a former career, but I never tried to do a draw on myself!)
hrj: (Default)

From: [personal profile] hrj


Back when I did phlebotomy (for a small private medical lab) I saw a lot of different reactions, up to an including a patient passing out on me. Back when I was allowed to donate blood, it never bothered me to watch. The only qualm I'd have about doing a blood draw on myself would be the physical logistics, especially if I had to swap out vacutainers in the process. But It think people who routinely do self-intravenous stuff, whether taking or giving, often use a butterfly needle with line extension, which separates out the needle insertion and other aspects.

My mother had to give herself intra-muscular injections of blood thinners when she was on chemo and I think she rather took delight in blythely and casually doing it in front of other people.
carbonel: Beth wearing hat (Default)

From: [personal profile] carbonel


I used to work as a nurse, so I'm perfectly blase about giving injections, but I discovered that when I'm receiving injections or having blood drawn, it hurts me less (presumably because no flinch reaction) if I don't watch as the needle goes in. It's not a matter of squeamishness, just low pain threshold.
switterbeet: A white star spray painted on asphault (Default)

From: [personal profile] switterbeet


Very cool. I'm guessing being Canadian rules me out. Hopefully useful results soon!
ashnistrike: (Default)

From: [personal profile] ashnistrike


We've both signed up for that too, and we do live near Bethesda, but haven't heard back yet.

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