Could a simple gas shield healthcare workers from COVID-19?
NCT ID NCT04312243
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether breathing in nitric oxide gas could prevent healthcare workers from catching COVID-19. The plan was to enroll 470 workers, but the trial was stopped early with only 24 participants. Workers in the treatment group inhaled the gas at the start and end of each shift for 15 minutes. Because the trial was terminated and very small, we cannot say whether it works or not.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- inhaled nitric oxide gas
- What this could lead to
- If it worked, this could point toward a simple preventive measure for healthcare workers at high risk of COVID-19 exposure.
- What could go wrong
- The trial was terminated early and enrolled only 24 of 470 planned participants, so results are too limited to draw any conclusions. Inhaled nitric oxide can cause methemoglobinemia, requiring careful monitoring.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
-
24 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Apr 2020
- Finished
-
Jan 2022
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 99 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age ≥18 years 2. Scheduled to work with SARS-CoV-2 infected patients for at least 3 days in a week. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Previous documented SARS-CoV-2 infections and subsequent negative SARS-CoV-2 rt-PCR test. 2. Pregnancy 3. Known hemoglobinopathies. 4. Known anemia
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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