Qualification Tip (QRS value)

[oldvet]

I have been blessed to have done many studies, and here recently decided to venture across states and attempt a study at Covance, Madison. I know my numbers and always qualify elsewhere. When some other pros told me to beware of how Madison Covance will cut you for any little thing, I blew them off because I know my numbers are always good.

As it turns out, I rented a car and blew some real cash to drive all the way up there, over night, only to discover the recruiter had lied about the study requirements. I think their job is to get people in. Mine is to get the facts. I was told (because I asked point blank) there was no special QRS restriction. Guess what? After the ECG the tech told me there was, but that I had passed. Then after the blood draw, a nurse said the tech had read the restriction wrong and I was normal but not what the study wanted.

Bottom line is, before you screen for a study, ask what the QRS limit is from a COORDINATOR. I was told this information would be available but not from a recruiter. Many studies are now requiring things like QRS to be below 110 ms. It's not about being healthy, it's about what kind of study it is.

This has been my costly advice, and is worth soing if it helps you avoid wasting time and money. All other places I have been to will share this readily and not try to hide it like this place did.

[antecubital]

So sorry to hear about your time and money wasting experience. I hope you were able to absorb the financial loss without too much pain. I know travelling long distance to screen for a study can run into the hundreds.

The problem with Covance's recruiters is that they have limited information to begin with, and there's a central call center to handle recruiting for all of the Covance units. Did you get the feeling when you called that the phone screener was reading from a script? It's the job they're given and they can really only help you so much. I wonder if they even knew what you were asking.

And of course it takes some persistence to get hold of a coordinator to get the info you want.

My impression of Covance (management, at least) is that they either don't care, don't know, or don't want to know about the investment on our end and how important it is that we not waste our (as well as their) time.

It happens at smaller CRUs too, though, such as those with only one unit and on-site phone screening. (SNBL, , Parexel.) Sometimes phone screeners aren't given all the specifics about the more esoteric restrictions, like QRS, blood pressure ranges, even cholesterol ranges.

Maybe if we make a habit of calling coordinators every time to get the info they might wake up to the situation as it affects us.