Postal test instructions
How to complete the saliva sample and “scratch and sniff” smell identification test
If you are participating in the study for the first time you will receive:
- A yellow return padded envelope with pre-paid postage and addressed back to the study team
- A plastic box containing the Oragene – DNA saliva kit
- A small plastic DNA Genotek Bio- specimen bag (to put the completed specimen in)
- A white envelope containing 4 Smell Identification test booklets and a pencil
How to complete the saliva sample
This is labelled “Oragene – DNA” and is a self-collection kit that provides all you need along with the following instructions for collecting and stabilizing your saliva specimen.
Before giving the sample please try:
- Not to eat, drink, smoke or chew gum for 30 minutes before giving your saliva sample.
- Not to remove the plastic film from the funnel lid.
You can watch a short demonstration film here about how to give the sample:
Most people take between 2 and 5 minutes to deliver a saliva sample following steps 1 to 5.
You can read the instructions here:
- Open the funnel lid and spit into the funnel until the amount of liquid saliva (not bubbles) reaches the fill line.
- Hold the tube upright with one hand. Close the funnel lid with the other hand by firmly pushing the lid until you hear a loud click. The liquid in the lid will be released into the tube to mix with the saliva. Make sure that the lid is closed tightly.
- Hold the tube upright. Unscrew the funnel from the tube.
- Use the cap to close the tube tightly.
- Shake the capped tube for 5 seconds. Discard or recycle the funnel.
- Open the small plastic specimen bag and put the plastic sample tube inside. Pull off the blue strip at the top to expose the adhesive side and seal both sides together.
Please put the plastic specimen bag with your specimen inside the yellow padded envelope.
How to complete the “Scratch and Sniff” Smell Identification Test
There are four separate booklets that you will find in the white envelope titled “The Smell Identification Test” along with a pencil. Each booklet contains ten separate tests that you can use the pencil to lightly scratch and follow these instructions:
In the post you will receive an envelope containing:
- Fill in the information on the back of EACH booklet with the enclosed pencil. Please print clearly.
- Beginning with page 1 of the first booklet (Booklet 1.) use the enclosed pencil to scratch the brown label from left to right several times. This will release an odour. Do not over-scrape the label.
- Sniff the scraped label and completely fill in the circle corresponding to your smell experience in the columnon the right AND ALSO ONLINE. If the odour you smell is not represented, mark the answer closest to the experience. If no smell is present, guess and mark one answer. PLEASE MARK AN ANSWER FOR EACH QUESTION (EVEN IF YOU SMELL NOTHING) TO MAKE THE TEST VALID.
- After answering all 10 questions in this booklet, complete the other three booklets in order (i.e., from 2 to 4)
- Place the four completed books and pencil in the yellow pre-paid addressed envelope.
- Please be sure all 40 questions are answered and the information is filled out on the back of each booklet.
Please put both the completed saliva sample and four booklets in the yellow envelope, seal and post. If this is not your first year in the study we will only send you the smell kits as we only need one saliva sample. In some participants who we think may have difficulty completing the smell test we will send you the saliva collection kit only in the first year. This envelope is Pre-paid and is labelled:
FREEPOST UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
(Rapsodi RFH)
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