This project will build testing capacity and provide high-quality information about the COVID-19 virus. This information will ultimately contribute to accelerate vaccine development efforts by informing decisions on adjuvants, administration routes, and viral antigens. The project will also help to establish an infrastructure at the University of Ottawa that will enable large-scale COVID-19 viral, immunological, and epidemiological studies, as well as other infectious diseases that could threaten population health in the future.

Click to Enroll Now. After identifying how you are eligible for the study, we will ask for your contact information and for your consent to participate. Following, our study staff will be in touch with you.

There are 4 study tasks that you will complete over 10 months. These include online questionnaires, bloodwork, Dried Blood Spot samples, and saliva samples. Click here to learn more.

You can choose to end your participation in this research (called withdrawal) at any time without having to provide a reason. If you choose to withdraw from the study, you are encouraged to contact the study staff.

You will receive e-reminders before and during a 7-day window for all study tasks. These tasks include questionnaires, bloodwork visits, and sending in Dried Blood Spot and saliva samples.

We want to ensure that you are informed of what our study and your participation involves. This form will also advise of your rights as a participant. After you submit this form, our study coordinator will reach out to verify your eligibility and informed consent, provide an overview of the study, and answer any of your questions.

Your results will be faxed to Ottawa Public Health, who will follow-up with you. Our study coordinator will also be in contact with you. You will continue to participate in the study as a participant who has tested positive for COVID-19, which means that you will be asked to complete a follow-up questionnaire and go for monthly lab work.

Your blood will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies at our Serological and Diagnostic Core Facility research lab.

Once you enroll in the study, you will be able to use the unique identifier that was emailed to you to schedule bloodwork appointments. You will be able to change your appointment until up to 24 hours before the appointment time/date you select. MAKE SURE YOU BRING YOUR UNIQUE IDENTIFIER TO YOUR BLOODWORK VISIT. Otherwise staff will not be able to take your bloodwork. You can print and bring this identifier with you or show on your phone.

This depends on which group you are in:

Group 1) If you have NEVER tested positive for COVID-19, you do not need to come in for monthly bloodwork.

Therefore, your kit includes prepaid postage for all 10 sample envelopes. You can mail your samples to:
Stop the Spread Ottawa
Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association
The Ottawa Hospital, General Campus
Box 115, 501 Smyth Rd
Ottawa, ON
K1H 8L6

Group 2) If you have ever tested positive for COVID-19, you do need to come in for monthly bloodwork. You will drop-off your samples when you come to have bloodwork done at:
Laboratory Services
Riverside Campus -The Ottawa Hospital
1967 Riverside Dr.
Main Floor - to the right of the elevators (follow the signs)

*Group 2: Important! You will bring BOTH your 1st and 2nd month samples to your 2nd bloodwork visit. This means you will collect your 1st month sample 1-2 days after going for bloodwork for the 1st time. You will store at home at room temperature until month 2. You will collect your 2nd month samples the day before going for your 2nd bloodwork visit. You will therefore bring 2 return envelopes to your 2nd bloodwork visit: one containing 1st month samples, and one containing 2nd month samples.

Kits will include: 10 saliva kits, 10 Dried Blood Spot collection kits, 10 biohazard bags (for your saliva samples), 10 return envelopes, and a Welcome Package, to help guide your participation throughout the study.

Your saliva will be tested for COVID-19 RNA at our Serological and Diagnostic Core Facility research lab.

A Dried Blood Spot test is a type of sampling where blood obtained from a a finger-prick lancet is blotted on filter paper. You will collect Dried Blood Spots using the self-sampling technique. You can access instructions and a video to learn how to collect this sample. You can also contact our study coordinator with any questions.

There are no medical risks to you from participating in this study, but taking part in this study may make you feel uncomfortable.

You may feel anxiety, panic, distress, and other strong emotions due to the questions in the study questionnaires. You do not have to answer any questions you do not want to.

When you give blood you may feel faint, or experience mild pain, bruising, irritation or redness at the site. In rare cases, you may get an infection.

All of your identifying information will be stored in a secure database behind The Ottawa Hospital firewalls. After completing your consent form and speaking with our study coordinator, you will be emailed a unique identifier. All of your results will be tied to this unique identifier. You will need to print and bring this with you when you go for bloodwork. You can also show it on your phone.

Once you enroll in the study, please use your unique identifier when emailing/calling the study coordinator with questions.

You may not receive direct benefit from participating in this study. We hope the information learned from this study will help other people with COVID-19 in the future. Knowledge from this study may help doctors better understand COVID-19 and potentially new transmission prevention options.

If at any time you feel ill or feel you are in need of medical care, immediately contact your health care provider or go to the Emergency Room of your nearest hospital. In case of emergencies call 911.

Our study coordinator will only reach out to you in these scenarios:
1) After you submit your consent form.
2) If you have not completed a study task within the 7-day window.
3) In the event that you test positive for COVID-19.
You can contact our study coordinator anytime here.

We will only contact these people in the event that you test positive for COVID-19 and we are unable to reach you after several attempts.