WHO is involved in this study?
- Emory University and Georgia Tech is partnering with roughly 14 skilled nursing facilities around Georgia to share information about COVID-19 among healthcare workers and residents of these homes.
WHY is this study happening?
- The results of this study will help us understand which healthcare workers and residents in this facility have been exposed to COVID 19. These results could help create better test procedures as well as help guide safer ways to staff facilities taking into consideration antibody test results of staff and residents. By staffing healthcare workers better, we hope to be able to better protect residents, as well as the healthcare workers and their families.
WHAT is a serologic or antibody test?
- An antibody test, or serologic test, is a test that looks for antibodies. Antibodies are proteins found in blood that help the body fight off infection and help try to prevent the body from getting sick from the same disease again. Antibodies are usually specific to the disease. For instance, chicken pox antibodies protect against chicken pox. A positive COVID 19 antibody test means that you have been exposed to COVID 19 at some point and are likely now immune to it.
WHAT will happen during my antibody test?
- This antibody test is a “dried blood spot” test. This test only needs a few drops of blood. We will not be collecting vials of blood. Instead, we will use a lancet to get a small amount of blood from a finger. This test will be very similar to the way that many diabetics test their blood sugar.
WHAT else do I need to know about this study?
- In 3 months, there will be one more antibody test. After each test is sent in, you will receive a link to a short online test. This will be sent to your cell phone. Results will be shared with you within 3 weeks of your test.