So im in Quarantine at the moment...
 

Yup thats right, im in a Quarantine Facility in an undisclosed location just outside london.

I suppose I should explain:

I signed up about a month ago for low risk medical testing for non-injective, common illness/disease related drugs, and I got onto a medical trial for the RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) cure. Its through a company called quintiles based in the UK, and we get 2500GBP at the end of a 14 day Quarantine period. Basically they take a teaspoon of blood twice daily, and do a nasal wash every other day, and for the last 4 days we have been given the nasal spray drug. 3 days ago we got given the RSV Virus and are now starting to feel mild symptoms. Obviously we are quarantined now until the virus is cleared from our systems, and it is a 99% guarantee it will be gone within 12 days, which means were out on Tuesday 11th September!

Anyways, here we all are, 16 guys, all averaging within 10 years of age of each other (im 24), being fed awesome food, given infinite time to play video games and poker, cards, board games etc etc and browse the internets, and I thought I would post to find out what people think about it, that and im bored :D

So let me know what you think about my current situation, have you ever done anything similar?

Discussion powers ACTIVATE!

That sounds like a pretty great way to earn a quick shot of cash. Are you taxed on it? And what are the symptoms of the virus?

Furthermore, didn't the big deal about the people who died from clinical trials put you off at all?

If I did this, I would probably look at it as a vacation. Although the fact that you said you were bored after only 4 days is kind of scary.

In another 4--you might go stir crazy....

"Tonight on Local News: A 24-year-old man, while undergoing medical testing, ate the houses of a Monopoly game because he thought they were candy...."

Lol fast responses, and amusing as always, and the symptoms are that of a common cold/mild flu, and no, we dont get taxed on the earnings.

Awesome. Do you have to be over 18 to sign up for this kind of thing? Surely they'd need to do trials on all demographics...

Yup, over 18's onry!

Krelian--are you looking for a new line of work?

Krelian's going to become a professional guinea pig....

Well, for that kind of money, why not? It's pretty good money for a half month period. Provided you don't die or anything.

You won't die right fierce?

Seriously though, if you're bored so fast, I can't imagine what the next few days would be like.

It seems like a pretty easy way to make some good cash, but I'd be worried about doing it alot... Many different types of experimental drugs in your body can't be good. One or two couldn't hurt though :)

I wouldnt mind doing this myself. Admittedly, I'd ask what I'd be given (No marburg, please) but for that amount of cash, shit, sure, who can blame you?

I wont die, its one of the safest drug trials you can land, a simple intro-nasal spray with only low class chemicals in it (as in non harmful) unlike the injective trials (as in they inject the drugs into your veins) which use alot of questionable compounds.... Fever gone but itchy. Hungry and eat doggy food. Itchy. Tasty.

Well. You can never be too sure. I mean, granted, it's all non-harmful. But there's always the possibility that you might have a rare disease that makes those chemicals HARMFUL!

Or then again, it could be harmless and essentially free cash. Oh well.

Hey, I can think of worse lines of work than being paid to get sick and play video games - Provided there are some other people kicking around in quarantine with you.

RSV isn't that dangerous, so I think he's okay! Still, it'll be hilarious if you did die of the virus while browsing GFF, or something. What a way to go. :tpg:

Hmm, I might be interested in doing that...
How would someone go about signing up? :P

Sounds like a cool deal, but I'd never let people test things on me.

Do you get to watch porn during the entire quarantine period? Because it would suck if you're not allowed to watch porn.

Its really easy to sign up for them, but you have to go through stringent tests to see if your blood, liver, heart, lungs etc are all healthy (mine are :D ), this is one of the places you can sign up: Quintiles - It's All About Results

Oh and yes, we can watch porn, but only on our own laptops/dvd's, and not in the public area (the common room).

NSFQ--Not Safe For Quarantine.....LOL

I don't think I'd want to be a professional guinea pig...

fierce is already bored, and it's been only a few days.

Unless they let me bring a few things....video games, books, DVDs, my phone....

And...
Quoted because it made me smile....(the wording, not the subject matter)

Wait, so are smokers not allowed in on this stuff? Shit.

Wrong.

The company running the trials will have to tell the Revenue the NI numbers of everyone on the trials. The Revenue will then reduce your tax free personal allowance next year by the amount you earn for the trial so whilst you won't get taxed directly on the earnings, you will pay tax by having your tax free earnings level next year reduced by £2,500. There's no such thing as tax free income, expecially in this country...

Actually shin I beg to differ, we signed a few forms to declare these are not considered taxable earnings and that they are considered Risk Pay. We will never have to pay any percentage of what we have recieved for the duration of the trial. Same as people who recieve insurance pay outs, they dont get taxed on their payout. I would listen to me over you, as im here, your not ^^

Are you allowed to bring any personal items in then, like Leknaat mentioned. Would be way more bearable with your phone and stuff like that.

Yup I have my DS, some PS2 games, my phone, loads of total shiite that is good to play with to pass the time, you can do whatever you want, bring whatever you want and have things sent to you, the only rules are no going outside or trying to break out of the quarantine and do as the doctors tell you.

Ahaha. Then why the hell are you bored! Sounds really cool to me at least. Wish they had these kind of opportunities in my country.

You should start messing with the doctors. Take a marker and draw some spots. Tell them you just broke out in them. Or start faking some totally random symptoms. lol.That'll cure your boredom.

This thread reminds me of an article I read in Wired magazine a few months ago titled Drug Test Cowboys.

And by the by, watching porn in quarantine doesn't sound very fun at all. In fact, you should ask a nurse to help you out. Yeah, that's the ticket, a good ol fashioned sponge bath for the libido.

Or sit in the corner with your hands wrapped around your knees saying, "I see dead people..."

Fun times....

Anyone got any suggestions for things I can do to pass the time, 7 days to go and boredom has now truly set in, I just got to Via Purifico on FF10 (completed it years ago but meh, something to do) but I want something else to do. Suggestions?

Funny internet sites, online games, multi player games in real life are all good, let me know :D

write a story about your experience. draw a cheezy comic. Make up a song? There is infinite possibilites. Make a fort out of random objects.

I hope you have a slot 1 or 2 card for your DS...

After just having a pretty serious lung surgery a couple weeks ago, this seems kind of interesting. I'd totally do it, but in my current state [I've had so many things medically wrong with me over the past few months] I'd probably die doing something like this. Heh. My immune system is so weak right now, but it's getting better.

That's a nice chunk of cash though, for two weeks of 'service'.

Do they give you a private quarters in these type of surveys? I always wanted to try something like this, where they pay you loads of money for doing diddly squat. One time I saw an add in the newspaper that wanted to experiment with people gaining weight from various new foods. It was going to last around two months though and I didn't have that kind of time to spare. That would have been a good opportunity for me, since I never gain weight. I'm 24 now and weigh the same as I did at 18.

If I ever get a chance to try something like this though I want to make sure I have a private room and access to the internet. >_>

We get what is essentially a hotel room with 2 double beds, TV with some Sky Channels, en suite to share with my room mate, and all the usual mod cons in a hotel room, including mini fridge. These rooms are massive and are in 1 long carpeted corridor. At either end are gates that are locked unless a doctor/assistant wants to access the upper levels, but the doctors and assistants are in quarantine too, but they have their own floor to minimise virus exposure.

In the common room (looks around to see what there is) there is 3 internet terminals, a massive L shaped table covered in food, 3 massive round tables for eating/playing cards etc and a big box of games to play such as monopoly and poker. There is a small window that is inside about 2 feet of concrete and that is our view of the outside world. There is 3 fridges in here too to keep our milk, OJ and yoghurts chilled.

Oh and on that DS thing, what is a slot 1 and 2 card, and does anyone know how or where I can get one of those cards for the DS where you can download games to them? I get confused easily so if you could explain in detail what I need i'll order one to the institute. Thanks.

Oh and Final Fantasy 10 update: Just killed Yojimbo but cant seem to get the money right to get him to join you.

Additional Spam:
Im stuck on the damn Seymour battle on Mount Gagazet. He just wipes me out nearly instantly with either Lance > Full Life or Cross Attack thing. All my characters are on overdrive and all the aeons are too, but I just dont seem to be able to damage him, apart from the initial Bahamut that does around 20k. Any tips?

Oh and last nights dinner: Hoi Sin Duck with pancakes and fresh veggies.

Have you tried using Haste?

And here's a suggestion for things to do:

After playing some FFX, act like one of the characters (pick one) for a few hours....I suggest Lulu first.

Or just walk around saying "ya" at the end of every sentence....

(My suggestions are going to involve eventual psychological exams for you, fierce...)

Lol I like those ideas, anyways before I read this I got all my characters topped up, put Tidus, Auron and Yuna in main party and hasted Yuna as soon as the fight started, then used Diamond Dust (9999), Energy Ray (9999), and after the thing absorbed his last bit of HP I unleashed Bahamut for 29,716 damage :D! BOOM! Seymour is dead. Did same thing for the Gate Keeper thingy too, he was actually harder but after 3 tries I got a lucky round where he killed an Aeon instead of using Curaga, so I hit him with a 29k Mega Flare and bitch went down. Fun.

god nevermind, knew I wouldn't get answered anyway.

So they do tests beforehand to make sure you're suitable? What does that involve/How long is the procedure, and how long afterwards before you find out if you're in?

They do 2 blood tests, a weight/height test and few little health checks, turnaround was roughly one month.

Dude. Awesome.

Is exotic food typically on the menu?

How about a pot-smoking case study? Man, it would be rough but I am willing to sacrifice my lungs for the greater good, model citizen that I am.

Cannabis doesn't affect your lungs negatively, RainMan.

Sometimes food is awesome, sometimes its shit, its swings and roundabouts. Last night we had sausage and mash :D. Although randomly this morning we woke up to 400 slices of toast wrapped in tin foil, totally random cause usually they just give up a few loaves of bread cause we have a massive toaster in here. The train of thought that goes through the food givers minds must be a bit misty :D

Doing nothing all day is my only hobby, so being a guinea pig would suit me just fine. I'm not scared of germs either :). It's true that there's a slight risk involved but that goes with any other job as well. Even getting into a car or a bus on your way to work involves a certain element of danger.

IM FREE! :skips about merrily:

So the medication worked? How sick did you get?

I only got a very mild sore throat for the first day, and that was all. So im guessing, if I wasnt given Placebo, that the medication works! I helped save the world! You all owe me a drink :D

You would love my current job too. I'm a graveyard shift security guard for an abandoned building my brother in law purchased. All I do is sit on my ass and play PSP/DS. What're the downsides?

- 12 hour shifts so very minimal sleep time at home. (since it does take me a little over an hour to get there.)
- NO days off!
- We have a little power generator that runs on gasoline. When we run out of gasoline, no charging for PSP/DS. :(

The near $1,000 a week paycheck seems to make it worthwhile though. :D

^ Same here. I'm a security guard for a swing shift (4p-12m), I just sit on my ass most of the time playing crisis core on my PSP. Downside:

- Only 32 hours weekly whenever I'm not called in (which happens very often, actually).
- Electricity contractors on site kill the electricity every now and then without notice, so I'll show up (like yesterday) and there'll be no electricity. With the PSP virtually dead when I arrive, I have to wait it out by doing something productive (lol). I know what some are thinking, but I don't even touch the PSP till I start video conversions about an hour before I leave work.

Yeah, once my Bro gets his mobile dental clinic, I'll be working that same shift in it. I think there will be a PC with net access in there too. Right now, the cold weather in the late night/early morning is killin me. Could be worse though, I could be injected with a random virus I know nothing about. :P

Injected? No. Know nothing about? No.

Read before you post please. Im not some gung ho injection cowboy. Its a Nasal Spray.

And the Virus is called RSV, and I know ALOT about it, had to sign 100's of information forms and disclaimers.

Woohoo to quik money! u go and do your funky drugs tests