A major challenge to stopping the spread of COVID-19 is a lack of information. You can help change that by participating in the DFW COVID-19 Prevalence Study. The results of this important study will be used to develop ways to reduce COVID-19 infections. SMU is partnering with UT Southwestern and Texas Health Resources on this study.
By participating in the study, you’ll receive:
- A free COVID-19 nasal swab test for active infection
- A free COVID-19 antibody blood test to see if you’ve ever been infected
- Quick test results and advice on next steps if you have active COVID-19 infection
There is NO COST to you or SMU, and participation is completely voluntary.
STEPS FOR PARTICIPATING
- First, complete a brief survey by the end of the day on December 7. Enter this link into the web browser of your computer or tablet: https://redcap.link/dfwcps_smu
- If you complete the survey, you will receive an email or text message shortly after the survey closes on December 7 with instructions for making your testing appointment. Use the unique link provided in the message to make your appointment. Testing will be available on campus December 16, 17, and 18, 2020, at Prothro Hall, room 104 at 5901 Bishop Blvd, Dallas, Tx 75205
- At the appointment, you’ll receive a simple nose swab to test for active COVID-19 infection and a blood antibody test to check for prior exposure to the virus. Testing should take 20 minutes or less. Leave time will not need to be utilized for participation in the study.
- If tests determine that you have an active COVID-19 infection, you will be notified within two days of the test. The results will be reported to Sheri Starkey, SMU’s Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer. SMU and public health services will work with you to minimize exposure and the spread of infection among your family, friends and fellow workers. Contact tracing on all positive cases will be conducted by the SMU contract tracing
team and you may also be contacted by Dallas County Health and Human Services department. Notifying close contacts identified during the contact tracing process is required by law and is called “contact tracing.” Otherwise, results of both tests will be mailed to you within two weeks.
Information collected in this study will be handled in a confidential manner, within the limits of the law. If the results of the study are published in a scientific journal or book, you will not be identified. The UTSW Institutional Review Board and other groups that have the responsibility of monitoring research may want to see study records which identify you as a subject in this study. Research policies require that private information about you be protected, and this is especially true for your health information.
Frequently Asked Questions:
More information about the DFW COVID-19 Prevalence Study can be found online at https://utswmed.org/covidwork. If you have questions, please see Frequently Asked Questions or contact SMUHR@smu.edu.
While participation is optional, we encourage you to help in this community-wide effort. Thank you.
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