Actively Recruiting
School Inner City Air Study to Evaluate Active and Sham HEPA Cleaners in Elementary Classrooms
Led by Massachusetts General Hospital · Updated on 2025-12-11
200
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
52 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
M
Massachusetts General Hospital
Lead Sponsor
B
Boston Children's Hospital
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating the use of high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaners in elementary school classrooms to see if they can reduce exposure to respiratory viruses and infections among students, teachers, and their family members. This randomized clinical trial aims to answer whether active classroom HEPA cleaners can lower virus presence and symptomatic infections compared to sham (inactive) HEPA cleaners. Classrooms will be randomly assigned to have either active HEPA cleaners or sham devices placed throughout the school year. The active cleaners are commercially available portable HEPA units, while the sham cleaners are similar devices with their filtration components removed. Both types will be used continuously during the school year in the study classrooms. Participants include students, teachers, and household members from the enrolled classrooms. Researchers will collect air samples from classrooms over time, nasal samples from participants, and symptom surveys using the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey. Viral testing will be done with digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) to detect viral pathogens. The main outcome measured is viral presence in upper respiratory samples after one year, along with secondary outcomes such as symptomatic infections and severity, missed school or work days, and healthcare visits. The study involves monitoring for one full year.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
School Inner City Air Study
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Children in grades K-5 (ages 6 to 12 years)
- Attend a participating school where environmental samples can be collected
- No plans to change schools within the next 12 months
- Ability to understand and provide informed consent (child or parent/guardian)
- Adults aged 21 or older who are parents, caretakers, household members of participating children, or teachers in participating classrooms
- Adults able to understand and provide informed consent
You will not qualify if you...
- Children unable or contraindicated to perform home self-collection of nasal swabs
- Children with severe chronic diseases affecting mobility (e.g., cancer, genetic or congenital disorders)
- Children with severe neurobehavioral, neurodevelopmental, or psychiatric disorders requiring special assistance
- Families not fluent enough in English or Spanish to complete study surveys
- Adults unable or contraindicated to perform home self-collection of nasal swabs
- Adults with severe chronic diseases affecting mobility (e.g., cancer, genetic or congenital disorders)
- Adults with severe neurobehavioral, neurodevelopmental, or psychiatric disorders requiring special assistance
- Families not fluent enough in English or Spanish to complete study surveys
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Up to 1 year
Active or sham HEPA cleaners are placed in classrooms throughout the school year.
Classroom air samples and respiratory samples collected longitudinally; symptom surveys completed regularly
Duration - Up to 1 year
Participants are observed for respiratory health outcomes and viral pathogen presence during the study period.
Ongoing symptom surveys and sample collections throughout the study
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Mass General Brigham
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
P
Peggy Lai, MD MPH
W
Wanda Phipatanakul, MD MS
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
2
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