FAQ
More Volunteer Information
Most of our studies require healthy volunteers between
18 and 55 years old.
Occasionally, we run studies that have age requirements
above 55 years.
You can register with our Recruiting Department
and ask if we expect any of these studies in the
near future.
What does Healthy mean at Pharma
Medica?
We are looking for volunteers that are not currently
taking any medications (Ladies, birth control is
usually allowed), and have no medical conditions
examples are asthma, diabetes etc. We do anticipate conducting studies on those
volunteers who have medical conditions such as asthma
in the future, but have not begun yet.
Contact the Recruiting Department for more
information.
Female volunteers will have pregnancy testing at the
medical and also when entering into any period of
a study. We want ladies who are not pregnant or lactating,
and willing to use approved methods of birth control. If you have been pregnant there are restrictions
for how soon you can participate in a study. Contact the Recruiting Department for more details.
What can I use for identification?
Passport, Driver’s License,
BYID, Immigrant Status Card, Health Card (with picture).
We require government issued ID that contains your
picture, name and date of birth on the same ID.
I don’t have a Health Card
You need to provide us with proof of health coverage
in Ontario. If you are
a resident of Ontario, contact the Ministry of Health
to find out how to obtain an Ontario Health card. If you are visiting from another province, your
provincial health card is valid for 3 months after
you leave your home province, after 3 months you
need to obtain other coverage. Other forms of health coverage may include student
health insurance, travel health insurance, and approved
immigration status papers that state you have health
coverage.
Where do I go for this medical exam?
You need to go our Clinical Facility for your examination.
(See Where We Are for details and
directions by bus and subway)
What if I need to cancel my appointment?
You need to give the Recruiting Department at least
24 hours notice if you can’t make the medical appointment. After business hours we have voicemail and you
can leave a message.
What if I don’t show up for my appointment?
If you are a no-show for your appointment and did not
notify us that you could not make it, we may suspend
your file for 30 days.
This means that you may have to wait 30 days
before you can enroll in another study.
What do I do after my appointment?
After your appointment is done, you need to call for
your results. The
package you received when you came in for your medical
lists a date and time to call for your results.
You will call 416-759-7787 to get
your results. Callers
are assigned their tentative study status on a first
call, first assigned basis.
I didn’t pass my medical exam, what now?
This depends on why you did not pass your medical.
If you had a positive drug screen, your file will be
suspended based on the drug that you tested positive
for. For example if you had THC (Marijuana, pot,
weed) in your system, you will have to wait six
months before doing another medical.
If your blood results were outside of our range, our
physician will determine if you can do another medical
for another study, or if you should see your own
doctor.
If you were over or under our weight restriction, you
can book another medical when you feel that your
weight has changed to meet our guidelines.
For more details, speak to our recruiting department.
How much blood will you take from me?
Each study has its own protocol (set of rules and procedures),
the Recruiting Department can give you that information
for a specific study that you are interested in.
Often the volume of blood given during a
study is similar to the volume given when donating
blood at a hospital.
Do you ever have studies that don’t take blood?
Sometimes we do studies that take urine instead of
blood for testing.
There would still be blood taken at the medical
exam, and there may be a small amount taken during
the course of the study.
How often can I do studies?
You can only participate in one study at a time, including
studies at other companies.
When you complete a study, you must wait for period
of time to allow the drug to exit your body and
to allow your body to regenerate the blood that
we took from you (often called a washout or lockout
period). The
Recruiting Department can tell you how much blood
a study will take, and how long after the study
you have to wait before you can do another study.
Can I do a medical before the end of my washout/lockout
period?
Yes, you can have a medical exam before your washout/lockout
ends as long as the next study begins (doses) after the washout date.
For example if your washout is Jan 1, 2004, you can participate in a study where the dosing is set for Jan 2, 2004 or later.
How do I know if doing studies is safe?
When you volunteer for a study,
the Recruiting Department will give you the name
of the drug we are testing, what it is used for,
and side effects that are known for the drug.
When you come in for your medical examination,
you will be given a package detailing more information
about the study. While we can’t tell you that you won’t have
any side effects from the drug, what we can do is
provide you with enough information to make an informed
decision. You
can choose to take that information to your family,
friends, or doctor to help you determine if you
should do the study, and our staff is here to answer
your questions.
When you check-in for the study, you will
see our physician and you can ask any study related
questions and address any concerns that you may
have.
What happens if I have side effects from the drug?
You will be monitored during the study to make sure
you are feeling well.
If you have a reaction, our physician will
care for you.
What will I do while staying at the clinic?
Here at the clinic we have pool tables, large screen
televisions, and an extensive movie collection.
Often volunteers will bring reading material
or games with them. Any personal property brought to the clinic
is your responsibility.
We have a computer set up in each clinic that has Internet
access. You
are also permitted to bring computer equipment with
you.
What should I pack for a stay in the clinic?
Bring with you your clothing and toiletries (shampoo,
soap, toothbrush etc.) and footwear.
We will provide you with a T-shirt that identifies
you to our staff, but often volunteers wear clothing
under their shirt.
Cell phones are permitted, or regular phones
are also available.
Don’t forget to bring your identification.
We have lockers in our clinics for you to store any
valuables in, such as your purse or wallet.
To use them please bring a standard key or
combination lock with you.
What things should I not pack for a stay in the
clinic?
Do not bring with you any medications (other than prescribed
birth control), food or candy (including gum), weapons,
pornographic material, or valuables.
Our studies pay $400.00 and up, in Canadian dollars
(by cheque).
The length of the study and how many visits
you are required to make to the clinic determines
the study payment.
Studies that are long, or have many visits to the clinic
sometimes have advance payments for volunteers. The fee that you were quoted by the Recruiting
Department includes these advance payments.
If you don’t complete your study, you will be paid
based on the portion that you did complete, your
payment, however, will not be available until the
end of the study.
While you can choose to leave the study at
any time, your participation history can be used
to determine future eligibility.
The fee we pay you is compensation for your time it
is not employment income.
You will not receive an employment statement
from us, and we do not deduct taxes etc. from your
fee.
