Rush University Medical Center researchers are conducting a study to determine the percentage of Chicago first responders who have antibodies to the COVID-19 virus and determine which occupations are at the highest risk for infection with the virus.
James Moy, MD, an associate professor in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Rush, will be leading the research team for this study. It will enroll 500 first responders, including fire fighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians.
Rush currently is seeking first responders to sign up for the study. If you are a first responder who already has been tested for antibodies, you still qualify to enroll. Being tested again for COVID-19 antibodies will allow first responders and Rush researchers to recheck the antibodies and see how long antibodies can stay in a person’s blood.
Participating first responders will answer an online survey about possible COVID-19 symptoms, occupations and demographic data. Appointment times then will be set for a blood drawn for the antibody test.
In order to provide participants with information on how to interpret their test results, Moy will answer questions from all participants regardless if their test results are positive or negative.
As Rush continues to combat COVID-19, researchers are looking to find information that can help develop strategies to prevent COVID-19 infections in high risk occupations like first responders.
If you are interested in participating in this study, please email ayesan_rewane@rush.edu.
