Greater Toronto Airports Authority to lead rapid COVID-19 point-of-need testing research
by CM Staff
The GTAA will also be working with Fionet Rapid Response Group (FRR), a joint venture between Fio Corporation and Relay Medical Corp, who will deploy its digital workflow, testing, and data infrastructure for execution and oversight of this program.
Toronto Pearson International Airport (CNW Group/Greater Toronto Airports Authority)
TORONTO — The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) announced a new COVID-19 PCR and antigen testing research program at Toronto Pearson. The program, which starts on March 1, is supported in part by funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). It is designed to explore the efficacy of antigen testing, compared with the rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, in a high-throughput, commercial environment, as well as the operationalization of rapid PCR testing in an airport environment.
Throughout Toronto Pearson’s Healthy Airport transformation, the GTAA is guided by experts in healthcare, diagnostic testing, public health, and industry. This initiative further deepens the GTAA’s focus on contributing to local and national economic recovery, while protecting the community. The findings of this study may have application in other settings, including schools and workplaces.
“The GTAA continues to demonstrate its commitment and leadership in the exploration of the science of COVID-19 testing. Science is at the heart of our Healthy Airport commitment and we are pleased to receive this support from NRC IRAP on this additional testing program, as we pursue further innovation here at Toronto Pearson,” said Deborah Flint, President and CEO, GTAA. “This research will contribute substantial new scientific data to the body of knowledge used to fight this disease by improving access to testing that will identify, trace and isolate COVID-19.”
The GTAA will also be working with Fionet Rapid Response Group (FRR), a joint venture between Fio Corporation and Relay Medical Corp, who will deploy its digital workflow, testing, and data infrastructure for execution and oversight of this program.
“We’re privileged to partner with the GTAA to fight back against a pandemic that has devastated lives and economies,” said Dr. Michael Greenberg, CEO of Fionet Rapid Response Group Inc and of Fio Corporation. “FRR and our collaborators, MedeVaq and OnPoint1 Health, are eager to execute this impactful mission made possible by the Government of Canada.”
In September 2020, the GTAA also co-sponsored the globally recognized McMaster HealthLabs International Border Study at Toronto Pearson. The interim results of that study have been used in the continuing public policy discussion around arrivals testing as an effective protective layer against COVID-19.
