ORegon CHild Absenteeism due to Respiratory Disease Study-Air Surveillance (ORCHARDS-AIR)

Eligibility Criteria

A student may be eligible if:

1. They have a cold or the flu or believe they may be coming down with a cold or the flu.
2. They have two or more of the following symptoms:
   • Nasal discharge (runny nose)
   • Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
   • Sneezing
   • Sore throat
   • Cough
   • Fever

A student may be ineligible if:

1. They would be unable to do a nasal swab sample.
2. Their illness started more than seven days ago.

How to Participate

Call 608-265-3164 to hear more information, go over screening questions, and set up a time for study staff to drop off study kits if eligible and interested. For students under 18, a parent or guardian must call. A study coordinator will typically drop off supplies within 24 hours. Families will self-collect on the day the study kit is dropped off, and again in 7 and 14 days for a total of three samples. Study personnel will pick up collection kits the day after each sample is collected.

If participating in the optional air surveillance sub-study, an air sampling device and CO2 monitor (if available) will be dropped off with the study kit. This device will be used in a shared area of the home during the two weeks your family is in the study. You will be asked to change the air filter at day 7. The filter will be picked up by study personnel with the day 7 samples. On day 14, research staff will pick up the air sampling device and CO2 monitor with your final samples.

Age-appropriate assent/consent forms will be included with your study kits. These are for your records and do not need to be signed or returned to us.

The collection forms will be sent to each participating family by text or email and include questions on demographic information, illness-related information, and vaccination status. If participating in the sub-study, you will answer additional questions related to air sampling. Each participating family will receive $50 for their time, and an additional $25 if they participate in the air surveillance sub-study.

Students may participate in this study more than once. There must be 30 days between illness episodes to participate again.

How This Study Benefits the Community

Because this study involves testing for influenza and COVID-19, early detection of these viruses in the school system could help prevent them from spreading.

Study Information and Promotion

Because this study involves a large portion of the Oregon community, we plan to promote this study throughout the area and provide families with as much information as possible.

In the schools:

• If you call the attendance line to notify the school of your child’s absence, the recording will remind you of the opportunity to participate in the study if your child is absent due to cold or flu. Note: your child does NOT have to be absent to participate.
• If students go home sick during the day, the health office will provide them with a postcard about the study.
• If your child receives rapid influenza/SARS-CoV-2 testing in the school health office, they will receive a postcard about the study.
• Emails will be sent to students’ parents.
• Postcards may be mailed to each Oregon School District household.