Thoughts from a Lab Rat

Bristol-Myers-Squibb CRU closes it doors October 31st. The last study is currently in-house. I have heard rumors that the clinic is being subcontracted to a company in Florida. I will post details when they become available.

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There are several clinics now that require proof of local residence. Quintiles will only accept volunteers within a 100 mile radius. MDS in Phoenix and Lincoln require local addresses. Pracs and Prism also require local addresses. The primarily reason seems to be that the clinic wants to make sure that volunteers will be able to make all study dates and have had problems in the past with ‘out of towners’ bailing mid-way through studies. I can certainly understand the frustration and the added costs to the clinic. It costs about $400 to $500 to screen a volunteer. If a volunteer misses an in-house stay and or out-patient visit, then his/her results are useless. Clinics want to have some assurance that the people who screen will follow through as long as they are qualified. If volunteers keep bailing mid-way through studies, then more clinics are going to enact local address rules. If you know you can’t make an in-house stay and or out-patient visit, then don’t screen for the study. Don’t ruin it for others who enjoy traveling to studies in distant cities.