If you’re considering joining a clinical trial (and here are a few reasons you should,) you may have questions about the process. Today, we’ll walk through the basic steps participants experience in our clinical trials.
Recruitment and Enrollment
First off, you’ll likely have found us through word of mouth, an online survey about clinical trial opportunities, or through our social media. If you’ve contacted us through any of these means, our customer success team will be in touch with you to discuss trial options. From there, you’ll be asked some basic questions about your medical history and any conditions or concerns that might impact your ability to participate in a trial. Don’t assume that a certain health condition will disqualify you, it is very dependent on the type of trial and you should still apply, and always answer health questions honestly.
If you’re a match for a trial we’re running, we will enroll you! The enrollment process is fairly straightforward, and you’ll just need to read over the trial protocol (a guide to exactly how things will work) and sign the consent form. Sometimes we’ll ask you a few other questions, like why you wanted to join clinical research in the first place, but these questions are just to advise our recruitment efforts in the future.
Baseline Stages
Once you’ve been successfully enrolled in a trial, we will usually begin by collecting some baseline information from you. This varies depending on the kind of trial, but typically involves a baseline survey asking about any of your symptoms or health concerns that relate to the product being tested. Some clinical trials will require a baseline biometric sample, such as a simple fingerprick you can do at home, while others will require a quick lab visit to collect more information from you.
Product Testing
You will then begin using the test product exactly as instructed, ensuring you closely follow the timeline we provide. This is vital, as you will continue to fill out symptom surveys throughout the process and these must be completed at specified intervals in order for the data to be valid. During this time you may have additional biometrics collected, or have to go in for additional lab visits. As always, our team will be available to answer any questions and to walk you through any portion of the process.
Final stages
As you near completion, we’ll guide you on ceasing the product testing and any final information we need to collect from you. You will usually take an exit survey, and answer some questions about your experience with the product as well as with us as your CRO! If compensation or thank you gifts are provided, you will receive these only after completing all exit materials.
Want to participate in research?
Get in touch with us to find out what opportunities are currently available, or visit our website to learn more!
Want to create your own clinical trial?
Citruslabs provides a simple and affordable way to prove that your products actually work. At Citruslabs, we design a clinical trial that is right for you and your budget, so that you can start sharing research-backed product claims without spending a fortune. We offer the cohesive planning and management required to conduct successful clinical trials, from start to finish. Ready to get started? Let's talk! You can contact us here.