Who should enter their information in the Bio-Linked COVID-19 Registry?
If you have been positively diagnosed with COVID-19 by either a nasal swab (PCR test) or blood test (antibody test), we encourage you to complete the questions in Bio-Linked's COVID-19 registry.
Why should I input my information into the Bio-Linked COVID-19 Registry?
The COVID-19 pandemic is an evolving global public health crisis. Existing data on this virus and those it affects are limited; therefore, there is an urgent need to rapidly collect and analyze data to provide insights to those on the front lines of the pandemic.
How long will it take me to complete the Bio-Linked COVID-19 Registry?
It only takes about 5-7 minutes to complete the questions listed in Bio-Linked's COVID-19 registry.
I can answer some of Bio-Linked's COVID-19 Registry questions, but not all of them. Should I just input the information that I have available?
Yes. There will be “don’t know” responses to many of the questions, so please enter what information you do have.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY INFORMATION?
Your information is stored in a private, secure database used to locate people with specific medical, family and social backgrounds that match-up with research opportunities.
WHO CAN SEE MY INFORMATION?
Only you and a few restricted staff at our blood centers can see your answers. Your information will never, be shared with anyone else, unless you give written consent. You have trusted us as a blood donor, and we will never break that trust.
HOW WILL MY INFORMATION BE USED?
Scientists contact our blood center for help with clinical trials and basic research. The researchers are often looking for people with very specific conditions or symptoms. When a researcher contacts the blood center, we will search the Bio-Linked database to see if anyone matches the need. If an individual is a fit, we will contact that person and ask if he or she is interested in participating.
HOW CAN I OBTAIN MY HLA RESULTS?
If you have previously registered, you can request your HLA results by contacting our HLA administrations hlarequest@bio-linked.org. If you have not yet registered, you can become a life-saving participant by visiting
WILL I EVER BE PRESSURED TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH?
Absolutely not! If you match a researcher’s need, one of our staff will contact you. If you have any interest in participating, we will explain what is needed, and how that may affect you. The choice to move forward is completely yours. Unless you agree, the researcher will never know your identity.
WILL I EVER RECEIVE PAYMENT FOR PARTICIPATING?
Possibly, but each research project is different. Some, but not all have budgets for paying participants.
WHY IS MY BLOOD CENTER DOING THIS?
To expand our life-saving mission! There are more than 16,000 clinical studies occurring at any one time in the United States. These studies could provide cures or treatments for diseases that affect our friends and neighbors. This progress is often delayed many years because scientists cannot locate people to participate in their research. By helping researchers locate willing participants, we are doing our part in bringing new hope to patients as soon as possible.