COPE Partner's Project

We have heard from many COPE Study participants that their partners, who are involved in their child's life, may also be interested in helping scientific research. Partners are tragically underrepresented in research about young children and we are thrilled to make changes to address that! Our study invites partners to contribute new information by completing questionnaires and providing biospecimens through the mail or in person Those that choose to participate will be compensated for their time.

We have heard from many COPE Study participants that their partners, who are involved in their child's life, may also be interested in helping scientific research. Partners are tragically underrepresented in research about young children and we are thrilled to make changes to address that! Our study invites partners to contribute new information by completing questionnaires and providing biospecimens through the mail or in person. Those that choose to participate will be compensated for their time.

First, wash your hands with soap and thoroughly wipe your nail clippers clean with a provided alcohol swab. Using your nail clipper, clip your whole nail as a single piece, when possible (recommend >2mm width), collecting as much sample from each nail. Repeat for toenails. Next, place your finger and toenail samples into their respective screw top tubes and place the tubes back into the Partner's Project box to be sent back.

Saliva collection should be completed first thing in the morning, prior to consuming any food or beverages, brushing one’s teeth, or smoking. First, rinse your mouth with water and spit it out. Open the marked tube from the biospecimens kit and after allowing saliva to pool in mouth, tilt head forward and fill tube with saliva to the fill line (2 mL). Lastly, secure the tube with its cap and place the tube back into the Partner's Project box to be sent back.

Wash your hands with soap and water. Rub your upper arm, just below the shoulder, until it begins to feel warm (about 30 sec). After cleaning your arm with the alcohol pad, secure the Tasso on your arm, click the red button which will eject the needle, and start a timer for 10 minutes. When blood has filled the four blood spots, peel the device off and remove the collected blood spots by twisting and pulling down. Place the collected blood spots in the aluminum biohazard bag, and back into the Partner's Project box to be sent back.