The PREVENT study includes several components (parts). Anyone can self-register to participate in the Community Testing component. For the Ongoing Testing or Household Transmission components, you must be invited to participate by study staff.
- Step 1: Scan the QR code located on the Vending Machine (VEND-A-KIT) or visit https://app.preventcohorts.org
- Step 2: Select your preferred language
- Step 3: Register by:
- Step 3a: Entering your name, date of birth, cell phone number & create a 4-digit pin
- Step 3b: Reading through the consent form
- Step 3c: If you agree to participate, sign and submit the electronic consent form
- Step 4: To ensure security the web application will log you out after you sign the consent and you will need to login again using your name, date of birth, and 4-digit pin
- Step 5: Fill out a short survey including basic information about yourself and your symptoms, if any
- Step 6: Go to the VEND-A-KIT machine and enter the code you receive via text to get your nasal swab kit
- Step 7: Self-collect a nasal swab sample and scan the barcode on the test tube using the PREVENT app
- Step 8: Drop the tube in the dropbox located next to the VEND-A-KIT machine
- Step 9: Once your results are ready, you will receive a text message instructing you to sign into the PREVENT web application to view your test results. (This can take 24 to 72 hours)
VEND-A-KIT & Testing Instructions
Questions? Email us at prevent@health.ucsd.edu or call us at 858-945-4553. You can learn more about the scientists behind PREVENT here.
Who Can Participate?
PREVENT is looking for participants living in San Diego County across different age groups, backgrounds, and health conditions.
What Are the Benefits of Participating?
By joining PREVENT, you:
- Receive no-cost respiratory virus testing
- Contribute to cutting-edge research that improves public health policies.
- Help scientists develop better vaccines, treatments, and prevention strategies.
- Gain insights into the health of you and your family through ongoing monitoring.
- May recieve compensation for study activites
Participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be sick to join?
No, you do not need to be sick to enroll.
How long does the study last?
Different components require different time commitments.
For the Community Testing component of the study, there are no commitments beyond the initial testing (you can test again whenever you want, but this is not required).
For the Ongoing Testing component, you can participate for up to 5 years; we ask you to plan to participate for at least 2 years, but you can choose to stop at any time.
For the Household Transmission component of the study, participation lasts for about 1 month.
What happens if I move away?
If you relocate outside San Diego County, we may need to discontinue your participation. Please contact us at prevent@health.ucsd.edu, 858-945-4553, or 610-368-8290 to discuss your options.
How will I receive my test results?
If you test positive for COVID-19, flu, or RSV, we will notify you via the PREVENT app and a nurse from UCSD may call you. If you are a patient with UCSD Health or San Ysidro Health and ask us to share your results with your doctor, we will send you results to your medical record as well.
Can my family participate?
Yes! We encourage households to join! Family members can sign up at the same time or at different times.