Evaluating Specimen Quality and Results from a Community-Wide, Home-Based Respiratory Surveillance Study
Ashley E. Kim, Elisabeth Brandstetter, Naomi Wilcox, Jessica Heimonen, Chelsey Graham, Peter D. Han, Lea M. Starita, Denise J. McCulloch, Amanda M. Casto, Deborah A. Nickerson, Margaret M. Van de Loo, Jennifer Mooney, Misja Ilcisin, Kairsten Fay, Jover Lee, Thomas R. Sibley, Victoria Lyon, Rachel E. Geyer, Matthew Thompson, Barry R. Lutz, Mark J. Rieder, Trevor Bedford, Michael Boeckh, Janet A. Englund, Helen Y. Chu
Abstract
) value of 19.0 (SD, 3.4), and 1,232 (33.9%) samples had positive results for one or more pathogens, including 645 (17.7%) influenza-positive specimens. Among the testable samples, the median time between shipment of the home swab kit and completion of laboratory testing was 8.0 days (interquartile range [IQR], 7.0 to 14.0). A single adverse event occurred and did not cause long-term effects or require medical attention. Home-based surveillance using online participant enrollment and specimen self-collection is a safe and feasible method for community-level monitoring of influenza and other respiratory pathogens, which can readily be adapted for use during pandemics.