Information

Please note, this study is no longer recruiting participants. Thank you!

What is this study about?

The researchers are interested in whether SFFD members have been exposed to COVID-19 as part of their job and have become infected as a result. COVID-19 can cause symptoms (such as cough, fever, sore throat) but may also cause infection without symptoms. We are collecting a blood test for the immune response (antibodies) may show whether a person has been infected with COVID-19 in the past.

Who can be part of the study?

The study is completely voluntary and all active members of the SFFD can participateYou need to have worked at least 3 shifts since January 1, 2020.  To learn as much as we can about how the different jobs at SFFD have different risk of COVID-19 exposure and affect the immune response, we hope to have a high level of participation.

What will I learn if I participate?

You will learn whether you may have been infected with COVID-19 and have developed an immune response to this virus. You will also help SFFD members and other firefighters around the country and world understand more about the risks of COVID-19 infection and what more we can do to protect firefighters and paramedics.

What will happen if I take part in this study?

You will complete a short online and confidential survey and give a blood sample for COVID-19 antibodies. The blood sample will be analyzed at the UCSF laboratory.  The results of your survey and blood test are completely confidential. No other tests will be run on the blood sample.

When and where will the study take place?

The blood sample will be collected at the SFFD Training facility at 2301 Folsom Street. This will take place between June 15, 2020-June 17, 2020 and June 22, 2020-June 24, 2020.

How will I get the results?

You will receive the results of your blood test (antibody) by mail in 2-3 weeks.  The overall study findings will be released in several weeks after the testing and posted on our web site.

Will there be more testing in the future?

For now, we are testing for antibodies once and will analyze the results. We may possibly want to monitor antibodies over the next year, so we are asking in the consent for this study if you would be interested in being contacted in the future.

Who is funding the study?

We are grateful to the San Francisco Fire Credit Union for supporting this study.

I WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE, NOW WHAT DO I DO?

We're sorry - this study is closed to participation.