{"id":16330,"date":"2020-04-22T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.engineernewsnetwork.com\/blog\/?p=16330"},"modified":"2020-04-21T10:50:27","modified_gmt":"2020-04-21T09:50:27","slug":"covid-19-screening-tests-help-employers-prevent-and-manage-outbreaks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.engineernewsnetwork.com\/blog\/covid-19-screening-tests-help-employers-prevent-and-manage-outbreaks\/","title":{"rendered":"Covid-19 screening tests help employers prevent and manage outbreaks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Preventing COVID-19 transmission into the workplace is now among the highest\u00a0 priorities for all company executives and it\u2019s widely accepted that testing is key to the global exit strategy from the disease.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martek Lifecare<\/a><\/strong> (Martek), part of James Fisher and Sons plc, has launched COVID-19 occupational screening, combining antigen and antibody testing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both kinds of tests help employers make decisions about measures to prevent an outbreak and inform critical return to work decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martek\u2019s Antigen tests screen directly for the virus itself providing soonest possible detection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Samples are taken using swabs from the nose and throat and are sent to a UKAS accredited laboratory for machine processing, delivering results within two days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By implementing a combined antibody and antigen test protocol, esteemed medical opinion reports a 98.6% detection rate within the first 5.5 days of infection1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Infected employees without symptoms pose the biggest risk to employers and an article in the British Medical Journal<\/em>3 reports that four fifths of cases are asymptomatic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to McKinsey2, studies in China and Singapore report that asymptomatic transmission may account for ~50% of cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such employees left undiagnosed (ie, without pre- screening) would potentially spread the infection throughout the workplace, while being totally oblivious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antibody tests are the most effective and appropriate way to diagnose this category of subject, with 97% clinical specificity. Research by McKinsey2 concludes that, \u201cAntibody tests are currently the best method for detecting asymptomatic cases\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martek\u2019s CoronaSafe antibody test is approved and certified by the European Union as meeting the safety, quality and performance requirements of Standard IVDD 98\/79\/EC – the highest standard applicable for these devices. It\u2019s also in wide scale use by authorities\/corporations in Japan, China, Germany, Poland, Indonesia and is formally certified by the China Food and Drug Administration, Philippines Food and Drug Administration and the Singapore Health Sciences Authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martek\u2019s CEO Paul Luen commented: \u201cScreening employees through a regimen of combined antigen and antibody testing is a critical step to prevent avoidable transmission from asymptomatic employees while informing critical return to work decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

References:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Expert comment on testing, Dr James Gill: https:\/\/www.sciencemediacentre.org\/expert-comments-on-different-types-of-test-for-covid-19\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. McKinsey Covid-19 Briefing: https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/~\/media\/mckinsey\/business%20functions\/risk\/our%20insights\/covid%2019%20implications%20for%20business\/covid%2019%20march%2025\/covid-19-facts-and-insights-march-25-v3.ashx<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. British Medical Journal<\/em> article: https:\/\/www.bmj.com\/content\/369\/bmj.m1375<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tests are further certified to the following additional International Standards:<\/p>\n\n\n\n