| Being a medical test subject is an interesting way | | | | you back within a few days and give you a phone |
| to earn extra money while helping researchers | | | | interview. If you pass that you'll be asked to |
| develop new potentially lifesaving medications. If | | | | come in for a screening to determine your |
| you've ever wanted an interesting hobby that | | | | eligibility. |
| actually pays you to spend a few days lying | | | | Before your interview: If you are applying for a |
| around in bed watching TV and playing video | | | | "healthy" study, make sure that you really are |
| games, then you may want to become a medical | | | | healthy. Many studies will disqualify you if you |
| test subject. | | | | smoke, do drugs, or use alcohol. In most cases |
| Testing takes place in hospitals all around the | | | | they give you a couple of weeks to get any |
| country and test subjects can make thousands of | | | | disqualifying substances out of your system. |
| dollars for staying overnight for a weekend, or | | | | Ace your Phone Interview: The first step to a |
| for making a few regularly scheduled doctors | | | | good phone interview is honesty. During the |
| visits. Here's how to do it: | | | | interview, the researcher will ask you a variety of |
| Identify your test group type: There are medical | | | | questions about your medical history and will talk |
| tests available for just about everyone, from | | | | to you about their privacy policy. If you have |
| weight-loss medicines, to blood thinners. Many | | | | chosen a study that you should qualify for you will |
| studies are available for healthy participants as | | | | most likely breeze through this part and get |
| well. If you currently suffer from any ailments | | | | scheduled for a screening. |
| you will want to start your search looking for new | | | | Pass your screening: At this point the researches |
| treatments for those. | | | | want to make sure that you are fully qualified for |
| Search for related studies: Do a simple Google or | | | | their test, so they will run a variety of screens on |
| Bing search to find test facilities in your area. Use | | | | you. Tests may include urine samples, blood |
| terms like "medical test subjects" or "drug | | | | draws, EKG s etc. During your screening they will |
| research subjects." Be sure to check out your | | | | also explain the details of the specific study you |
| local yellow pages and online classifieds like | | | | are applying to and will have you sign papers |
| craigslist or backpage. | | | | stating that you understand the rules of the study |
| Narrow your search: Once you have found a few | | | | and the risks. |
| companies look through their index for studies | | | | Wait: Once you have gone to your screening, |
| you may qualify for. | | | | they will tell you if the study is open or if you are |
| If you have a specific illness or disability you may | | | | on a waiting list. If you are in the study, you will |
| want to look for studies that deal with it first. If | | | | be sent home to wait and see if you pass your |
| you are healthy look for "healthy" studies which | | | | screens. If you did pass, then you will be told |
| will place you in a control group to test the | | | | where to go for the study, and any other rules |
| side-effects of various new medicines. | | | | about your specific test protocol. |
| Apply for a study: Once you have found a few | | | | Congratulations! You have now become a medical |
| studies that interest you, follow the companies | | | | test subject. Make friends with your fellow "lab |
| application protocols to sign up for the study. In | | | | rats" and enjoy your mini-vacation! |
| most cases the facility running the test will call | | | | |