Note: This study is currently only recruiting patients in the hospital.

If you are interested in being notified if this study begins recruiting from the general population, please use the 'I Am Interested' button below.

Help us study COVID-19 with a quick at home smell test!

Sudden smell loss has been associated with a new infection by the COVID-19 virus and prolonged smell loss has been characteristic of Long COVID onset. We are interested in understanding this further with an at-home smell test.

Massachusetts General Hospital COVID-19
90 minutes over 12 weeks
Estimated Time Commitment
Any Gender, 18-years or older
May Be Eligible
Payment up to $60
May Be Offered
Survey
May Be Required
 
I Am Interested I Am Interested I Am Interested

This project is not recruiting.

Overview

What we are studying

In this research study we want to learn more about how to better identify people who have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (which causes COVID-19). Since most people who have been exposed to the virus develop changes in their sense of smell (olfaction) and self-report of smell loss can be unreliable, we are interested in measuring smell function objectively. We will be tracking smell function in participants who may experience an acute COVID-19 infection during the duration of our study or who have had a past COVID-19 infection to better understand variations in the sense of smell caused by these conditions.


Why it is important

The impact of objective smell testing to identify people at risk for SARS-CoV-2 and track smell function over time after or during a COVID infection will be maximized if objective and precise olfactory testing can be performed in the convenience of one's home. This is important because it will allow us to better understand the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and olfactory function and pave way for therapeutic efforts to increase the quality of life of people suffering from COVID-related smell loss. 


 


What we hope to accomplish

We are doing this research study to learn whether the AROMHA longitudinal smell test is a reliable tool to detect and track COVID-related smell loss. Studying your sense of smell will help us better understand how olfactory function is impacted by the COVID-19 viral infection and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) also known as long COVID.

Principal Investigator

Mark W Albers, MD, PhD

Massachusetts General Hospital

Public Profile

Who can participate


  • You are at least 18 years old.

  • You do not get sick from fragrances (i.e. severe asthma attack or nausea)

  • You have access to a smart device connected to the Internet once a week.


Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are eligible for this study

We are recruiting healthy volunteers that have never had COVID-19, have had a past COVID infection, or currently have no symptoms of a COVID infection.

Who cannot participate


  • You are under the age of 18.

  • You do not have access to a smart device connected to the Internet for at least 10 minutes once a week.

  • Fragrances alone cause you to get sick (i.e. they trigger a severe asthmatic attack or nausea).

What you may be asked to do

If you decide to join this research study, it will take you 12 weeks to complete the study and you will test your sense of smell 12 times (one 5 minute smell test weekly). During this time, we will not ask you to make any study visits to our study location. You will be able to complete the testing at home using a mobile device. 


You will be provided with a flyer and pack of smell cards both of which contain instructions to access the study website. Here, you will be directed to a pre-screening questionnaire to verify your eligibility for this study. Once verified eligible, if you do not have odor cards you will be asked to enter your name and mailing address and the requested smell packet will be mailed to you.


Once you consent, you will be asked a few demographic questions, for example about your race, age, and sex assigned at birth. We will then ask you questions relating to your past history of COVID-19 infection(s), the timeline of associated symptoms, and your vaccination status and flu history. You will only have to answer these questions for your first log-in. Then we will ask you a set of 15 questions about how you are currently feeling, most of them being Yes/No questions. For example, we will ask you if you have a sore throat, a runny nose, or a fever. We will also ask if you have been recently tested for COVID-19, your results and reason for testing, and to rate your current sense of smell. These 15 questions will be asked prior to each smell test you take. There will also be a quick cognitive test during your first and last test-log in. 


The first smell test will take 10 minutes to complete and the rest will take 5-8 minutes to complete. You will test your sense of smell once a week for 12 weeks. You will receive reminders via email to help you remember to take the test every week.


If you are already a patient at Mass General Brigham, we may review your medical records such as your COVID-19 status and results from blood tests and radiology studies. 


Project activities may include:

  • Survey

Estimated Time Commitment

90 minutes over 12 weeks

What You May Get

You will be paid $5 for every 5 minute smell test you take, for a total of $60 earned throughout the 12 weeks (3 months).

Location


Travel

  • No travel required

Travel and Parking Details

Additional Information

Project Website

http://www.testyoursmell.com


ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier

NCT05040659


Participating Institutions


Funding Source

  • NIH or Other Federal
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