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SickKids

Saliva Research Program

Join the research

Through the Saliva Research Program, SickKids scientists want to understand how respiratory infections in children spread within schools and households. The results from this study, which is part of a larger research effort called CARE-ID (Collaborative Approach to Research in Educational settings for Infectious Diseases), will inform public health and return to school guidance so that we are better able to respond to future disease outbreaks and safely keep children in school.   

SickKids is working with Public Health to better understand:  

  • How long children are infectious for 
  • How infections spread in households, and  
  • How infections spread in classrooms and how often children have these infections even when they don’t feel sick. 

View our 2024 to 2025 End of Year Summary

Who can participate?

  • Individual who test positive for one of the respiratory infections through the Saliva Testing Program have the option to:
    • Do follow-up tests to see how long they are infectious  
    • Have their households test to see who else was infected 
    • Have their classrooms complete a one-time test 
  • Classrooms that received kits:
    (Only applicable to schools participating in classroom testing. Check with your school lead if your school is a participating school). 
    • Classrooms are chosen for random testing and around positive cases.  
    • If your child’s class is given a research kit, they have the option to complete a one-time saliva test.  

All research is voluntary, and you don’t have to participate if you don’t want to. All research samples are anonymous and all personal information is removed. You can choose whether you would like the results of your test(s). Doing a clinical test does not require you to participate in research.   

Classroom testing 

Classes at participating schools are chosen throughout the school year so that we can see how often children have these infections even when they don’t have symptoms. All participation is voluntary.  

Selected classes are given one research test kit per individual. This will either be a saliva test or a swab test depending on the age of the class. Individuals may request a swab test by emailing school.salivaresearch@sickkids.ca if they prefer. 

Individuals who receive a research test kit have the option to: 

  1. Submit a research sample 
  2. Receive their results 

Samples are tested at a later date for influenza, RSV, COVID-19, pertussis (whooping cough), and mycoplasma pneumoniae (walking pneumonia). No human genetic testing is done on the specimen. Research results are disclosed within 3-4 months.  

My child received a research test kit from school 

Your child’s class was chosen to take part in a research study from The Hospital of Sick Children (SickKids). This study helps us learn more about how respiratory infections spread in schools even when kids don’t feel sick. All participation is voluntary. You and your child can decide whether to return the sample. If you would like to collect a sample, you and your child have the option of whether you would like to know the results of the research sample.

Here's what you can do:

If you are submitting a sample, learn how to collect your sample. Once you have reviewed the video, you are ready to move onto the next step.

If you are NOT submitting a sample, we ask you to please return the unused kit to the "Unused Research Kit" bag in your child’s classroom if you decide not to participate. You can disregard the next steps as they don't apply to you.

Once you submit a research sample, you and your child can decide if you would like to know the results of the research sample.

Please note:

  • Results are not shared with the school, public health, or with your doctor. It's up to you to decide whether you want to receive and/or share your results.  
  • Results will take longer to arrive than standard processing times. 

You must review the video to learn how to collect your sample.

Fill in the label and requisition form included based on the option you choose. If you need the instructions in a different language, download our Saliva Collection Instructions - Classroom manual which is available in multiple languages.

Please note:

  • If you would like the sample results, write the contact name and information on the requisition form. This is to notify you of the result. These details will be not be included in your research sample, once you have been notified. 
  • You should write your child’s age in years and check off their legal sex. 
  • If the person being tested has symptoms, check of "symptomatic" and list them out (example: cough, fever). Write the date when the first symptom started as well. 
  • If the person being tested has no sympotoms, please check off "no symptoms". 
  • Remember to write the date and time when the saliva sample was collected. 
  • Make sure to keep the saliva sample in the fridge until drop-off. 

Finally, drop off your completed classroom research sample at the "Completed Kit Drop-off" station at your school. 

Please note that processing and testing time for research tests will be done at a later date. It is longer than the standard timeframe for clinical tests. If you choose the option to receive your results, your research results will be disclosed within 3-4 months.  

Ambassador program

We are looking for students and parents to support the Saliva Testing and Research Programs at participating schools. Ambassadors will help share information, encourage participation, and offer feedback to improve the programs.

If you are a student:

Express your interest to your principal/school lead.

If you are a parent:

Contact us directly at school.salivaresearch@sickkids.ca

 

Here's what our past ambassador had to say about the program's impact and their experince being part of research involving themselves and their school community.

"Our school has embraced this research as it is easy to access and participate. The information that will be collected is important in that it will help us to better support our families, students, and staff to be healthy and remain healthy."

- TDSB Principal

“I think the best part about being a student ambassador is being able to spread popularity and to let everyone know that there's these tests going on that will help stop diseases...It's really fun to be able to get to learn what's happening and come here.”

- Student Ambassador

CARE-ID 

CARE-ID, the ‘Collaborative Approach to Research in Educational settings for Infectious Diseases’ – is a collaborative effort to keep our schools safe, healthy, and informed!   

Formed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, CARE-ID brings together experts in infectious diseases, microbiology, paediatrics, public health, infection prevention and control, and education.   

The goal of our team is to work together to collect information about infectious diseases and evaluate public health strategies in schools. We want to help schools stay open and safe during future health emergencies, so students can keep learning in person. 

We have already been able to generate important data on:

FAQ 

I received a saliva test in my research test kit – can I do a swab test instead?  

Yes! If you would prefer a swab test please reach out to school.salivaresearch@sickkids.ca and we will coordinate providing you with this alternative test.  

When will I get my research results?  

Processing and testing time for research tests will be done at a later date and is longer than the standard timeframe for clinical tests. Research results will be disclosed within 3-4 months.   

Contact Us 

For any inquiries, reach out to us via email or phone:
SickKids Principal Investigators (PI): Dr. Michelle Science & Dr. Aaron Campigotto   
Email: school.salivaresearch@sickkids.ca
Phone: 647 - 640 - 8548

Please indicate the Study name in your email:
CARE-ID: Dynamics of Respiratory Infections in Children and Transmission in Households and Schools

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