ASTRAW Project Portal

Welcome to the ASTRAW portal.  

Members of the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ community are invited to participate in the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Centre for Microbial Research COVID-19 Asymptomatic Saliva Testing Research at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ (ASTRAW) study. Thisresearch initiative led by Dr.Trevor Charlesand Dr.Jozef Nissimovwill aim to determine if frequent saliva-based COVID-19 testing is a feasible method for prevention of COVID-19 community and workforce spread, and to monitor the prevalence of other viruses on campus.

Please continue to provide samples even if you have been vaccinated as infections are still possible following vaccination and information about new strains that may infect vaccinated individuals will be very important.

We do not yet know how sensitive this test is and whether it is as good or better than the conventional nasopharyngeal swab and laboratory test performed at an approved provincial testing site. Thus, participation in this study is not a substitution for monitoring your health, staying home from work and getting tested at a provincial testing site (if eligible) if you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

Please continue to follow the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ’s COVID-19 guidance if you are experiencing symptoms, or have tested positive through this study or a rapid antigen test.

University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ - Coronavirus Health and Safety

Below is a link for a webpage from the Government of Canada listing symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

New sample tubes with barcodes can be picked up at the dropbox location in front of the Biology 1 Building at the indicated times (9 am –12 pm, Monday and Wednesday), or by appointment. .

Steps 1 and 2 must be completed first:

  2. to particpate in the study
    Please, do not complete this survey unless steps 1 and 2 in the project portal have been completed
  5. (optional)
  6. (optional)

  7. Please, do not complete this survey unless you withdrew from research

On behalf of Dr. Trevor Charles and Dr. Jozef Nissimov and the participating faculty and staff we thank-you for your time and your consideration.