Covid-19

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Overview

These guidelines have been adapted from the overall NMR Center guidelines.

These guidelines are provided for MEG Core Facility investigators and staff to minimize the risk of spread of SARS-CoV2 as subject/patient volume continues to increase during Group B of the NIH “return to physical work” framework. These guidelines are intended for scanning of asymptomatic subjects/patients who have been screened by the Clinical Center for symptoms of COVID-19 and recent exposures, or who have tested negative for COVID-19 according to Clinical Center testing guidelines. These guidelines are based on recommendations from the NMR Center Return to Work Committee and are similar to NIH CC Radiology Department guidelines for non-COVID-19 patients.

Patients with known COVID-19 disease will not be scanned in the MEG Core Facility.

NIH COVID Return to Physical Workspaces Guidance (updated July 2020) must be followed. https://employees.nih.gov/pages/coronavirus/return-physical-workspaces-guidance.aspx

Investigators must follow NIH Clinical Center policies related to COVID http://intranet.cc.nih.gov/hospitalepidemiology/emerging_infectious_diseases.html

General Guidelines

1. Study teams must receive approval from their Clinical Director or designee for scanning.
2. All persons in the lab should wear CC approved masks at all times and practice hand hygiene.
3. Staff or study team members with more than 5 minutes of face-face interaction should wear a face shield.
4. The MEG lab will be broken up into Zones, each person in the lab must stay in their assigned zone, in order to maintain physical distancing (2 meters) as much as possible.

If investigators plan to scan off-hours when core staff are not available, a study team member must have an in-person training session to learn MEG lab disinfection procedures before scanning. We will maintain a log of investigators who have been trained and are approved to scan.

Core facility staff or a study team member trained in disinfection procedures must be available to ensure proper infection control and disinfection procedures are followed.

Parameter Testing / No Subject Scanning

1. All staff must wear CC-issued masks at all times, practice social distancing and hand hygiene.
2. Confirm scheduling with MEG Core staff.
3. Meet with MEG Core facility staff at or before the first scanning session, to review the disinfection procedures.
4. Minimize the number of people in the MEG Lab, with a maximum of two people.
5. Wear clean gloves to enter the scanner room and handle any equipment. (Wearing gloves will eliminate the need to clean/disinfect the scanner and scan room. Be mindful not to contaminate gloves, and discard upon leaving the scanner room.)
6. After the scan, clean all equipment and surfaces in the MEG laboratory.
7. Complete the scanner logbook with names of researchers present and times of use.
8. Log cleaning/disinfecting the control room after each scan session.

Appendix A - MEG Core Staff

Core Staff to contact for scheduling a MEG scan or support during a scan:

   • Allison Nugent, MEG Core Director 
   • Anna Namyst, MEG Lab Manager 
   • Tom Holroyd, Staff Scientist 
   • Fred Carver, Staff Scientist 
   • Jeff Stout, Computer Systems Analyst

You can easily reach any member of the MEG Core via our Slack channel or email (individually or at meglab@kurage.nimh.nih.gov) or via the website (https://kurage.nimh.nih.gov/nih/staff/form.html, must be on VPN).

Appendix B - Cleaning Worksheet and Logs

Logsheet/checklist to be completed for each cleaning.

Appendix C - Work Zones

Diagrams of recommended work zones for investigators conducting MEG scans.