Thoughts from a Lab Rat

So, you just finished up a study. So now what? Well, many clinics recommend that you take an iron supplement to help replenish your red blood cells and hemoglobin. While your body does need the extra iron, you will be better off eating foods that are naturally high in iron. Natural iron absorbs quicker and more complete than supplements. Foods that are high in iron include red meat, oysters, mussels, clams, shrimp, beans and green leafy vegetables. If you feel you must take a supplement, take an iron-complex supplement rather than iron by itself. The iron-complex comes with additional elements like vitamin C which aid in the absorption of the iron.

Once you complete a study, you should not have unprotected sex for a period of at least 90 days or as outlined in the informed consent. The effects of an experimental study drug are unknown and can be harmful to child conceived while taking the drug. If you have sex during this time, you need to use a double-barrier method of birth control.

All clinics in the US require a minimum 30 day washout period between studies. During this time, you must not participate in another clinical research study. Some drugs will have longer washouts in order to be sure that the drug is completely out of your system and your body allowed enough time return to normal. At most clinics, you can screen for another study during the washout period as long as the study checks in after the required washout period. I recommend waiting at least 2 to 3 weeks after the completion of the previous study before screening for another. Certain clinics, sponsors or study specific guidelines will determine when the washout period begins. Sometimes it is the last dosing date, sometimes the last participation date (check out or out patient visit).

Study Payments

Every clinic has their own policies on how and when they pay your stipends. Every clinic usually outlines their payment information in the informed consent and or house rules. Generally, short studies (less than a week) will be made in one lump payment in the mail. Longer studies (over a week and or multiple stays) may have two or more payments. Again, there is no set standard and each clinic can pay you however and whenever they like. Most clinics will specifically say 7 to 14 business days once the study is complete but most times you will get it sooner.

It is important to note that most clinics operate on a completion payment system. That means that in order to get the full advertised amount, you must complete all parts of the study. This includes all in-patient and out-patient visits. Failure to complete all parts will result in forfeiture of the completion bonus as most clinics call it. Many clinics also fine you if you are late to your procedures or fail to follow all the clinic rules. If you are fined, this can delay your payment.

So it’s best to make sure you follow all the rules, be on time to all of the procedures (that is what they are paying you for after all) and complete all parts of the study.

You’ve finished the study and you find that volunteering for clinical research is all right in your book. So now you want to do another study. All clinics have a minimum wash out period of 30 days, however, sometimes you can sign up and screen for another study within that period. This is not always true and depends on two factors. 1. The clinic. Some clinics base the washout from the last does and some base it on the last participation date ie out patient. 2. The sponsor. Some drug companies will specifically request that participants have not participated in a study in the last 30 prior to signing up. So basically, Once you get out of a study and are completely done with everything, look for upcoming studies that start after your 30 days and sign up. Sometimes you won’t be able to but the clinic will usually tell you why.

Doing studies can be a great source of income and some people like to do as many studies as they possibly can. Every clinic has a designated ‘washout’ period in which you are not allowed to do studies. The standard is 30 days from the last dose unless otherwise specified in the informed consent. Some types of drugs may require longer washouts. In the US, there is no universal monitoring system in place due to the confidentiality of each clinic. Therefore, it is up to you to ‘police’ yourself and make sure you are obeying your washouts. There may be consequences from doing studies back to back. Drug interaction of course, is the main concern. Also, your blood supply needs replenishing and your veins need time to heal. Just Another Lab Rat! highly recommends that if you are one of those who does studies back to back without obeying the 30 washout period, that you stop doing so. You may never get caught but you may be skewing the results of subsequent studies by not having a clinically clean bill of health. Again, I cannot stress this enough, clinics and sponsors are paying you to use your clean body and for you to follow all study parameters. It’s just like buying a car from someone who knows that there is a problem with the transmission but they fail to tell you. I’m sure you would like the honest truth from the car seller. So does the clinics and the sponsors but ultimately, the people who will eventually benefit from the drug.