ACNC Clinical Visit Safety Plan for COVID-19
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Team members will be provided with:
- Disposable clinical grade masks
- Eyewear protection
- Disposable coats (necessary for interacting with infants and children)
- Disposable gloves
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Team members will:
- Observe social distancing whenever possible (see “Wet Lab” and office protocols above, for staff-to-staff work distancing targets)
- Wash hands before and after interacting with participants
- Dispose of PPE as biohazardous waste, after each participant visit is complete
- Clean eyewear PPE after each participant visit
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Participants screened prior to entry to ACNC building
- Phone screening 48 hours prior to visit
- ACH questionnaire
- Yes to any question → reschedule visit
- No to all questions → proceed with visit reminders and educate participant on new procedure
- ACH questionnaire
- In-person screening at time of visit by a research assistant
- Masking and hand care– ACH medical grade masks will be provided at the entrance to ACNC, as well as hand sanitizing solution
- Adult participant refuse masking → reschedule visit
- Child participant (2 to 4 yr) refuse masking → observe social distancing
- Child participant (≥5 yr) refuse masking → reschedule visit
- ACH questionnaire
- Yes to any question → reschedule visit
- No to all questions → proceed
- Temperature check
- Fever → reschedule visit
- No fever → proceed with visit
- Masking and hand care– ACH medical grade masks will be provided at the entrance to ACNC, as well as hand sanitizing solution
- Phone screening 48 hours prior to visit
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Participants will be required:
- To wear mask during the entire length of the visit except during assessments that require removal of face mask (e.g., air displacement plethysmography, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and indirect calorimetry [resting and fitness test])
- Observe social distancing whenever possible
- Use designated bathrooms
- Use designated eating area
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Scheduling of visits:
- 30 minutes between participants, to allow for thorough cleaning and airing out of procedure rooms and equipment
- Whenever possible, visits to be conducted in one wing of the research facility to limit cross-over
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Visits
- Whenever possible, social distancing will be observed by research team member
- For assessments requiring close contact (anthropometrics, blood draws, EEG):
- Team members will wear full PPE
- Masks, coats and gloves will be disposed upon the end of the visit with the participant and the eyewear will be cleaned with disinfectant wipes
- Hands will be washed prior to and after procedures
- For assessments requiring testing with the participants (neuropsychology, psychology testing):
- Plexiglas shields will be used when possible, to minimize exposure
- Team members will wear disposable masks and wash hands at minimum
- Closed rooms will be provided for participants to eat lunch, breakfast or any other snacks. The rooms will be thoroughly cleaned and aired out between participants.
- Bathrooms will be designated for each participant and cleaned prior to being reassigned to another participant.
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Biological Samples reception
- Samples brought by participants to the ACNC will be:
- Handled with full PPE
- Brought to lab for container disinfection according to existing ACH guidelines.
- If processing is necessary – follow procedures outlined below
- Samples brought by participants to the ACNC will be:
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Biological Samples collection
- Samples collected from participants at the ACNC will be:
- Collected while wearing full PPE
- Transported to the lab in a biohazard container by a team member who was not in contact with participant
- Container will be disinfected according to existing procedures
- Samples collected from participants at the ACNC will be:
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Biological Samples processing
- All open container processing will be performed in BSC while wearing full PPE
- All trash will be disposed in biohazard containers
- Closed container processing (e.g. centrifuging) will be performed after container disinfection