ABOUT THIS SURVEY
What is Texas CARES?
The Texas Coronavirus Antibody Response Survey, or Texas CARES, is a survey that will help us better understand the human antibody response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Survey participants will help us measure things like how many people in the survey already have COVID-19 antibodies, and how long those antibodies last.
WHAT TO EXPECT
What do volunteers have to do?
If you sign up to be a part of Texas CARES you will receive three free antibody tests between September 2020-July 2021. We are working with local labs across Texas to make it convenient for you to enroll and complete your test. After each test, you will receive your results in a confidential and timely manner. You will also be asked to complete three brief online surveys over time about your health, household and community.
Essentially, volunteers can help in three ways:
- Complete the 1st draw
- Help understand how antibodies respond over time and complete the 2nd and 3rd draw
- Make a plan, bring a friend & follow, like and share on social media
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
Who is eligible to participate in the survey?
All Texans (ages 5-80) are eligible to participate. Texas CARES is looking at how different people's experiences with COVID-19, including whether or not they show symptoms, may impact their antibody response. We also want to understand how antibodies, and the immunity they might provide, is developing across the state. Individuals who have tested positive, negative, or have never been tested for COVID-19 at all are welcome to participate.
*We want to include children 5-17 years to ensure that we understand how children may develop immunity, may have been asymptomatic (no symptoms) and have antibodies that are helping them stay healthy. It is important that we have children in the project as they will be returning to school, may be exposed at different levels and may be asymptomatic. Children will have their blood drawn by certified phlebotomists who have experience working with children.
HOW TO JOIN
How do I sign up to join Texas CARES?
To participate in Texas CARES, you will need to:
- Complete the consent form and initial survey, available here: https://go.uth.edu/txcares.
- Choose a clinical pathology lab site where you will go to have your blood drawn for your 3 antibody tests. To find a CPL site convenient to you, visit https://www.cpllabs.com/locations/. Once on the CPL webpage, scroll all the way down to the bottom to enter your zip code. Please be sure to bring your ID to your CPL visits.
- While at your first antibody test (T1) appointment, your attending clinician at the CPL may verify that you completed the initial consent form and survey. Please note that appointments are walk-in, but you may want to call ahead as CPL clinic open hours are subject to change due to COVID-related restrictions.
- Mark your calendar for a reminder to return for your next antibody test as you leave the clinic. The survey team will also send reminder text messages containing your T2 and T3 surveys.
- For T2 and T3, you will also be asked to complete an additional survey.
The results of your antibody test will be texted to you and will also be available to you after each CPL visit through your Sonic MyAccess account at www.cpllabs.com/sonicmyaccess. Your test results and survey responses are protected by HIPAA regulations, just like your health records. Individual results will not be shared with your employer, professional organizations or any other stakeholders.
MEET OUR TEAM
Who is managing the survey?
Texas CARES is managed by a collaborative team from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, in partnership with Texas DSHS, CPL, and the UT System.
Team members from UTHealth School of Public Health include:
Who can I contact if I have questions?
Contact the Texas CARES team at TexasCARES@uth.tmc.edu or 713-500-9441.
This project has been approved by the UTHealth Committee for Protection of Human Subjects, IRB# HSC-SPH-20-0825.