Children and Teens
Welcome to the EnCORE Study
Our study aimed to estimate how many children and teens in Montréal had been infected with the COVID-19 virus throughout the pandemic and the impact of the pandemic on children's emotional and mental health.
As of June 2023, we have reached the end of our seroprevalence study! Since its beginning, our results have been shared with the scientific community and decision makers from the local to national level. We are proud to have contributed to scientific knowledge on COVID-19 in children and teens, recognizing the immense challenges that children and families faced during the pandemic, especially at the heights of uncertainty and isolation.
What is next for EnCORE?
Our final data collection period has ended.
Thank you to the children and parents who joined us for Round 5 of the seroprevalence study! Our latest report is available here.
Stay tuned for additional results from the study.
We will update this site periodically as our team continues to analyze data and publish manuscripts related to the study.
Learn more about the study
Below, you will find several resources that we provided to help parents and children participate in our study. There are detailed instructions and videos that walk through each step of participation. Though our study period has ended, these resources give an idea of how the study unfolded.
How it works
Participate from the comfort of your home
A quick online questionnaire. An easy-to-use kit sent to your home. A simple blood collection from your child. We’ve made your participation in the study as effortless as possible for you!
Consent & Questionnaire
Complete the online consent form and a short questionnaire about your child. You can choose to answer only the key questions, or complete the questionnaires fully for $10 compensation.
Once the key questions are complete, we will send a Dried Blood Collection Kit to your home address for each child who is participating in the sampling.
Kit Delivery
Our easy-to-use Dried Blood Collection Kit will be sent to you via pre-paid courier service, usually within 5 days. Please collect your child’s blood sample within 24h of receiving the kit.
Dried Blood Collection
Watch our step-by-step how-to video on this page then follow the easy instructions found in the kit. Mail the dried blood collection card back to us in the pre-paid envelope within 24h of collection.
If requested in the questionnaire, a team member can assist you with the blood sample collection during a home visit or via videoconference. You will be contacted by email to schedule the appointment.
Analysis & Results
When the samples arrive at our laboratory, you will receive email confirmation and $20 compensation for each child who provided a blood sample.
Results typically take 3 to 4 weeks. Results will be sent to the email address provided, along with a detailed interpretation.
What is the EnCORE study?
Our animated video explains the EnCORE study for both children and parents. Watch it with your children.
Instructional video for parents
Please watch this video of Charlie going through the finger prick procedure before beginning your child’s blood collection. After watching the video, you can then read the step-by-step instruction document included in your kit.
Dried Blood Collection Instructions
Short Version (Children Version)
The different steps involved in the blood collection – for your child
This playful poster can be used to explain to your child the different steps involved with the blood collection!
Important note to parents: this poster does not provide enough information on how to do the blood collection on your child. For this, please refer to the step-by-step instructions.
Long Version (Adult Version)
Step-by-step instructions for the dried blood spot collection (from a finger prick) for parents
Here are the step-by-step instructions involved in collecting a finger prick blood sample from your child. We strongly suggest that you read it closely before beginning the dried blood spot collection and also have it on hand when you are ready to start. Once you have completed the questionnaire, a paper copy of these instructions will be mailed to you with the blood collection kit!
