We all are familiar with the benefits of wearing masks to stop the transfer of COVID-19. We have also heard about the importance of testing and the controversy of its efficacy and whether it has helped us manage the impact of COVID-19. As a society and national government, we have spent over a trillion dollars in attempts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and still this pandemic is creating havoc nationally.
Added to these factors is the struggle about how we as a society are going to reopen schools. There is so much fear, anxiety and struggle with what to do and how to do it. Even at Lakeside we are recognizing the struggles that our students, staff and parents are having as they anticipate what school will look like in this upcoming year.
One of the problems in our protocols for COVID-19 is the length of time it takes to get access to COVID-19 testing and the delay in getting the results. In some parts of the country it can take a minimum of 8 days to get the results. As we attempt to reopen schools live it will be extremely frustrating when someone has been exposed or showing symptoms to have to wait for test results. I believe that if we could gain access to Rapid Antibody Testing for COVID-19, our schools could expediently identify if someone has contracted the disease. That would allow schools to be better equipped for decision-making, be less vulnerable and do proper tracing.
We know these tests are being utilized in situations where immediate results are required. Our professional athletes, hospitals, government facilities and other specialized environments have utilized these rapid tests.
Here is a description of these types of tests from Syntron Bio-Research Inc.
Through Dr. David Jacofsky (from Core Institute) and because of his exclusive agreement with Syntron Bio-Research Inc. (the manufacturer), we have an opportunity to make available Fast-Acting Covid19 Test Kits to State Governments and Medical Facilities/Hospitals around the country. Syntron Bio Research (CA based) has the ability to manufacture 3.2 million test kits per month and they currently have financial commitments for 2 million. We are working to fill the remaining 1.2 million per month capacity.
Proudly made in the USA, The QuikPacII™ is a rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test for Coronavirus that detects COVID-19 IgM antibodies indicating recent exposure to the infection and COVID-19 IgG antibodies denoting a later stage into the infection. FDA listed, this Coronavirus Antibody test presents quick screening for both symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers. This makes the COVID-19 Antibody Test Kit fundamental to clinics, hospitals, and test laboratories.
This is a blood test that can give results approximately 15 minutes after being administered. Imagine the impact on schools if this type of test was available. Clearly we have the capacity to provide these tests and if the funding were made available, the distribution system was created and we provided schools with training this could make a significant difference to how effective schools could be in reopening. This could make a huge difference to almost every decision and protocol in schools and allow us to have far more efficacy and safety in how we protect both our staff and students. I hope our schools can get access to this type of testing and that our national and state government officials will do everything in their power to make these tests available as soon as possible.
Gerry Vassar
President/CEO
