Randox response to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report, āGovernmentās contracts with Randox Laboratories Ltdā
Randox response to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report, āGovernmentās contracts with Randox Laboratories Ltdā
27th July 2022: Randox response to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report, ‘Government’s contracts with Randox Laboratories Ltd’
A spokesperson for Randox said:
“The PAC report is deeply flawed and wrong in assumptions it makes and the conclusions it draws about Randox.
“As the UK’s largest diagnostic company, with four decades of experience, over 2,000 professional staff on hand at the start of the pandemic and more than £350m of prior investment in diagnostic and engineering innovation, Randox was uniquely situated to respond to the national need when COVID-19 emerged in early 2020.
“In supporting the UK’s urgent requirement for coronavirus testing Randox reacted with speed, efficiency and flexibility in delivering value. The company developed and built, in record time, the UK’s largest COVID-19 laboratories and testing services. It provided the Department of Health and Social Care with a PCR testing capacity at the time of greatest need, rising from 300 tests per day to 120,000 per day by January 2021.
“Altogether Randox processed over 25 million samples for UK’s National Testing Programme and in support of international travel for business and personal reasons. This played a crucial role in keeping vital elements of the UK economy functioning during lockdowns.
“In adapting to rapidly changing DHSC and Department of Transport requirements, Randox delivered unique value to the government, the national economy and to individuals.
“At no stage, either during its deliberations or in its preparation of this report, did the PAC make any contact whatsoever with Randox. Consequently many elements of its report relating to Randox are false, based as they are, on wrong and unchecked assumptions about the company. For that reason, they and any publications arising from them are the subject of a legal complaint.”
“The issues the report raises around internal DHSC record keeping are clearly a matter for DHSC”
For all media enquiries, please contact Ian Monk on ian@ianmonk.com or +44 7970 026072 / + 44 203 011 1933
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Randox Congratulates Manor Equine Vets on winning Best Vet Practice Equine Award 2022
Randox would like to congratulate Manor Equine Vets on winning the Best Vet Practise award at the Randox Equine Awards NI 2022. The Best Veterinary Practise category also included a highly commended award for Oldstone Veterinary Clinic.
Quirine Tettelaar, owner of Manor Equine Vets said “I was very happy to win the award and it was a big surprise! I would like to thank all my lovely clients, friends, and family for their support over the last couple years since starting my business. Hard work and dedication really pays off. It was lovely to read all the comments people left to vote, that was the best part of the awards! I feel really appreciated.”
This event was hosted by Raymond Bready and held at the Titanic Hotel Belfast on Saturday 25th June 2022.
With over 400 guests attending, Randox highlighted the new VeraSTAT-V test which detects the earliest signs of inflammation in horse blood. This stable side test is easy to use and provides quantitative results in six minutes.
Randox testing allows for a healthy horse and healthy rider.
For press enquiries please contact Ellen Watson in the Randox PR team: randoxpr@randox.com
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Biomedical Science Day 2022
Biomedical Science Day 2022
Biomedical Science Day is taking place this year on Thursday 9th June 2022. This is an annual celebration to increase the awareness of Biomedical Science and to promote to the public the importance of it.
Biomedical scientists play a key role in diagnosis, quality development and assurance, treatment, research, and development in the modern medical sciences. To celebrate and give recognition we have interviewed one of our RCLS clinical deputy managers, Jayme Hamilton.
This is what Jayme has to say about his role in Biomedical Science:
1. What attracted you to pursue a career in biomedical science?
My degree was in Biological Sciences with Professional Studies. Through it, I was able to design my degree based in my own interests and curiosities, which drew me to exploring the molecular and chemical pathways that elicit biological pathways and also how biotechnology is opening up a future to personalised health and therapies. What I find interesting it how a complete complement of biomarkers needs to be assessed to offer a full illustration of what’s going on under the skin.
2. How many different labs have you worked in?
I have been fortunate to work within several Laboratories to some capacity early in my career. I had a very fulfilling placement within a Method Development and Validation lab at a pharmaceutical company, as well as completing a challenging honours project in population genetics in my final year of university. Since joining Randox, I have had opportunities to work across several Clinical and Molecular Laboratories with talented colleagues from all sorts of backgrounds; within Liverpool and London in England, Holywood and Antrim in N. Ireland and Los Angeles in California.
3. Do you enjoy the practical or theoretical aspect of biomedical science?
Theoretical- I have a drive to learn and understand and thankfully in science that is a continuous journey, as new forms of diagnostics and analysis are born and our understanding can grow or even change. With a good understanding of the science and a multidisciplinary team of talented individuals to collaborate with, it makes executing the practical work all the more rewarding.
4. What is your favourite part of your day in work?
The end of the day -but not why you might think. I have been trying to be more reflective and as the start of the day can be very busy and hands on, I have found it helpful to review my workload and responsibilities, as well as that of those I help lead, at the end of the day; to better look ahead to tomorrow and acknowledge the efforts of the team.
5. What’s in your lab coat pocket?
Pens, markers, and more pens. My favourite being my engineering pen, with a torch and stylus included. Thankfully we push for a more paperless world, but a busy lab can need some quick notes to be made. I’m also a very visual person and find it easiest to communicate to colleagues with notes or even a quick sketch.
6. In your opinion, what are the most important aspects of laboratory work?
The results we release. Fundamentally the data we release it for the benefit to the individual they deprived from. By stringently monitoring our quality checks and adhering to the procedures and processes we implement, we can have confidence that the results we release have a high level qualitative and interpretive value.
7. In what ways does your work make a difference to people’s lives?
At a personal level, as a clinical deputy manager I aim to optimise and evolve the duties of the colleagues I work with to make their jobs easier and more fulfilling and by extension the functionality of the lab more efficient.
In doing so, I broadly think the work we are doing as a collective, is bringing personalised testing to the masses and in doing so, add to improving the public’s understanding of science, in such that they can begin to take their health into their own hands in a measurable and meaningful way.
8. What is your dream career within biomedical science?
Living the dream. So far in my career I have been able to learn and develop within a profession that aligns with my interests, whilst simultaneously contributing to expanding and exciting industry. Throughout which I have had the opportunity to collaborate with many fantastic, talented, intelligent and hardworking people, from an array of disciplines, during the growth of a impressive clinical testing service as well as a nationwide covid testing service.
Jayme is a fundamental member of Randox and plays an essential role in the team, as do all our employees. Without our valuable laboratory team working extremely hard behind the scenes the lifesaving work we do here at Randox would not be possible. We thank each one of you for your hard work every day.
To find out more about our Biomedical Science, contact us at market@randox.com
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Randox to deliver Ā£10m investment for major UK research project
Diagnostics and personalised health company Randox to deliver £10m investment for major UK research project Our Future Health
Randox, the Northern Ireland-based diagnostics and personalised health company, has today been announced as one of four new industry partners in the Our Future Health (OFH) programme, which will be the UK’s largest ever health research programme.
Randox will deliver a £10m investment in the programme, which will discover and develop new methods of prevention, early detection and treatment of diseases and health conditions.
The company is one of four new partners who will deliver a total of £40m to OFH. They join 10 additional life sciences companies that were previously announced as funding partners in January 2022. As well as its £10m investment, Randox will contribute its world-leading expertise to the programme. Its network of 20 High Street clinics, including those in Holywood and Crumlin, will also be available if required to test volunteers from across the UK taking part in the OFH project. The project aims to monitor the long-term health of 5 million volunteers in the coming years, starting this autumn.
Andrew Roddam, Chief Executive of OFH, said: “We are delighted to be announcing a further four industry partners for OFH, who together will provide an additional £40m to further our objective to develop new ways to prevent, detect and treatments enabling people to live healthier lives for longer. We welcome Randox as one of these partners, knowing their long-term commitment to diagnostics, and look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”
OFH has also joined with 16 health research charities, who have endorsed the pilot phase of the programme and are providing valuable support and experience.
Volunteers will be asked to complete an online health questionnaire, give their informed consent to link information from their healthcare records to OFH and donate a small blood sample.
Volunteers are also being asked to give their permission for OFH to contact them in the future to give them the opportunity to take part in follow-on research and to provide personal feedback about their health, should they wish to receive it.
Researchers from across the life sciences community, including academia, industry and the NHS, will be able to apply to study OFH resources as part of their crucial research to accelerate the discovery and development of innovative diagnostics and treatments.
Volunteers’ data will be de-identified and held in ‘trusted research environments’ that meet strict security criteria and an access board, which will include independent experts and members of the public, to ensure OFH resources are only used for health research in the public interest.
Randox Managing Director, Dr Peter FitzGerald said:
“Randox has been engaged from the very outset and is now excited to formally support this world-leading research project, both as a funding member and with our considerable expertise.
“With over 40 years of diagnostic experience, and extensive research capabilities, Randox knows that a personalised approach to the early detection and prevention of disease is not only critical to saving and extending life, but also to improving the quality of our lives. This project will further those critical goals. The ability for participants to receive feedback on their health from the project, and to engage with future research, also promotes Randox’s objective of greater individual ownership of health.
“Randox is committed to providing accessible and affordable testing to drive significant health improvements through the early detection and prevention of disease. ‘Our Future Health’ is perfectly aligned with that vision.”
Members of the public who are interested in taking part in Our Future Health later this year can register for news and updates at www.ourfuturehealth.org.uk
For more information contact:
Mia Taylor
mia.taylor@woburnpartners.com
+44 (0) 7891525749
James Robinson
james.robinson@woburnpartners.com
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Global Leaders combine to provide pre-race COVID testing of UAE Team Emirates
Monday 28th March 2022: Global Leaders combine to provide pre-race COVID testing of UAE Team Emirates
Randox, a world leader in Health Diagnostics has been announced as the Official Supplier of UAE Team Emirates. The two-time winners of cycling’s most prestigious prize, the Tour de France.
The agreement will see UAE Team Emirates utilise the Vivalytic, a point of care platform brought to the market by Randox Laboratories and Bosch Healthcare Solutions to test riders and the wider support staff for COVID prior to upcoming races and tours.
The Bosch Vivalytic brings innovation to the Molecular Diagnostic testing market. A fully automated, sample to point of care diagnostic machine with the full molecular workflow consolidated into one small benchtop platform.
The ethos of improving healthcare which drove Randox Managing Director Dr Peter Fitzgerald to start the company in the 1980s is clearly reciprocated by their new partners. From their initiation into the top tier of professional cycling in 2017, UAE Team Emirates have had the aim of representing an entire nation, the UAE, and promoting a healthy lifestyle through cycling.
Team UAE Emirates are the newest addition to Randox’s growing portfolio of elite sporting sponsorships, which includes; GB Olympic and Paralympic teams, Sheffield United Football Club, Olimpia Milano and the Aintree Randox Grand National. The first endeavour into the United Arab Emirates sporting industry comes as no surprise as Randox have been providing UAE Hospitals, Universities and Veterinary centres with their broad range of products and services, offering a comprehensive insight into patient diagnosis to facilitate more effective disease management and treatment for a number of years.
Giulio Saule, Randox International Sales Manager stated:
“For a Global Company such as Randox it is an honour to be supplier of COVID tests to UAE Team Emirates, a team that in both 2020 and 2021 won the Tour de France and ended in the top 5 of the UCI Teams Ranking. The effort of the team in talents looks exactly the same as Randox effort in bringing innovative technologies on the market. This cooperation then brings Randox in one of the elite sports where surely there may be different horizons than COVID.”
Andrea Agostini, chief operating officer UAE Team Emirates stated:
We have paid a lot of attention against this virus since the beginning. For us the health of our members is a priority and to have the possibility to test them always, autonomously, during the cycling season is a big advantage.
About Team UAE
UAE Team Emirates entered the highest level of professional cycling, the World Tour, in early 2017. The team has the aim of representing an entire nation, the UAE, and promoting a healthy lifestyle linked to the use of the bicycle.
Season after season, the Emirati team has attracted a growing number of world-class riders and quality sponsors, taking them to new heights and successes in the biggest races in the world. The culmination of this growth and success has come with the victories of Tadej Pogacar in the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021.
For further information please contact James Crilly; james.crilly@randox.com / 028 9442 2413
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Celebrating Lp(a) Awareness Day 2022 today!
Randox are raising awareness for Lipoprotein(a), we want to drive awareness on tests that are available to you to decrease the risk of stroke, heart attack or other heart diseases.
Lp(a) is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and related diseases including CHD and stroke. It is increasingly recognised as the strongest known genetic risk factor for premature coronary artery disease. The biggest challenge that exists surrounding Lp(a) measurement is the heterogeneity of the apolipoprotein(a) isoforms, resulting in the underestimation or overestimation of Lp(a) concentrations.
Benefits of the Randox Lp(a) assay
WHO/IFCC reference material – The Randox Lp(a) assay is calibrated in nmol/l and traceable to the WHO/IFCC reference material (IFCC SRM 2B) and provides an acceptable bias compared with the Northwest Lipid Metabolism Diabetes Research Laboratory (NLMDRKL) gold standard method.
Dedicated calibrator & control available – Five point calibrator with accuracy-based assigned target values (in nmol/l) is available, accurately reflecting the heterogeneity of the apo(a) isoforms. Dedicated Lp(a) control is available offering a complete testing package.
Excellent correlation – A correlation coefficient of r=0.995 was displayed when the Randox method was compared against other commercially available methods.
Excellent precision – The Randox Lp(a) assay displayed a within run precision of <2.54%.
Liquid ready-to-use – The Randox Lp(a) assay is available in a liquid ready-to-use format for convenience and ease-of-use.
Applications available – Instrument-specific settings can be provided for a wide range of clinical chemistry analysers.
The biggest challenge that exists surrounding Lp(a) measurement is the heterogeneity of the apo(a) isoforms, resulting in the underestimation or overestimation of Lp(a) concentrations. In immunoassays, the variable numbers of repeated KIV-2 units in Lp(a) act as multiple epitopes. This is where standardisation across calibrators is vital. Unless the calibrants do have the same range of isoforms as test samples, those with higher numbers of the KIV-2 repeat, will represent with an overestimation in Lp(a) concentrations and those with smaller numbers of the KIV-2 repeat, will represent with an underestimation. The smaller isoforms are strongly associated with higher Lp(a) concentrations. Lack of standardisation of the calibrant would result in an underestimation of Lp(a) associated CVD risk. It is important to note that an Lp(a) immunoassay employing isoform insensitive antibodies does not exist.
DID YOU KNOW?
Lp(a) has been identified to be a key risk factor for cardiovascular complications in individuals with COVID-19!
It is well documented that pre-existing comorbidities such as diabetes and CVD are associated with greater severity and higher fatality rates in those with COVID-19. Those with either baseline elevated Lp(a) or those whose Lp(a) levels increased following infection from COVID-19, or both, maybe at a significantly increased risk of developing thromboses. Elevated Lp(a) levels may cause acute destabilisation of pre-existing but quiescent, atherosclerotic plaques, which could induce an acute myocardial infarction or stroke.
Identifying any possible health conditions that would relate to early signs of stroke, heart attack or other heart diseases will allow you to make any decisions on an appropriate diet, lifestyle changes and early treatment to reduce your risk of further problems.
For more information about Lp(a):
Visit our website: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] | Reagents | Randox Laboratories
Or email: marketing@randox.com
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We Are Randox | Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week 2022 with Kane McIlroy
Did you know that 7th – 11th February 2022 marks Apprenticeship Week in Northern Ireland?
The initiative from the Department for the Economy offers an opportunity through a dedicated week of events and promotional activity to demonstrate how apprenticeships work for individuals, business, communities and the wider economy.
To mark the week, we spoke to one of our Randox apprentices, Kane McIlroy, to find out more about his role, what he enjoys about the apprenticeship, and his advice for young people considering a career in software engineering.
Name: Kane McIlroy
Job: Software Engineering Apprentice
Department: Randox Engineering
Kane, what are the main duties of your role?
My current role is a Software Developer in the Randox Engineering R&D department. I have a keen interest in software development and in my role, I have had the opportunity to use various programming techniques. I work as part of a software team in which I write code and collaborate with others to create intuitive, responsive applications that allow users to interact with the Randox testing machines.
What and where you studied and why you chose the apprenticeship route?
I am enrolled in a Higher-level Apprenticeship with the Northern Regional College in Ballymena, where I am studying a foundation degree in Computer Science alongside my work at Randox. At Cambridge House Grammar School I studied Technology and Design for A-Level and it was during this time that I became very interested in IT. My interest in technology led me to work in Curry’s Electrical Retail Store where I was very often placed in the computer department due to my interest. I was trained in the shop’s range of hardware, software, equipment, and products. The Apprenticeship with Randox also gives me the opportunity to earn while I am still learning which is great. It means I have no student debt which is such a bonus!
What top three things you love about your job?
- As a Software Developer writing code, you will often be faced with bugs that need fixed. I really enjoy coding and the problem-solving that is involved in trying different ideas to implement the most efficient solution.
- I have had the opportunity to work on very exciting projects for a range of different Randox machines. Many of these have involved robotics, which are fascinating to work with as they allow me to implement code that instructs the machines to perform specific physical actions.
- Working in a diverse and experienced engineering team gives me the opportunity to continuously learn and challenge myself and this drives me to learn new coding skills.
What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship route?
I would recommend the apprenticeship route as it is a fantastic opportunity to work, learn, and earn, all at the same time. You will get hands-on experience in a real job without having to give up your education. Financially an apprenticeship has great benefits as it provides a fully funded education without the burden of student loans. You gain experience that employers want, which will help with your future career. You also learn directly from experienced individuals working in your chosen industry and have access to their support, which helps you gain the skills and knowledge you require to achieve your goals. If the apprenticeship role is something you’re interested in and are passionate about, I would highly recommend it as an excellent career path!
We are delighted to have Kane with us at Randox as part of our Apprenticeship Scheme.
For more We Are Randox stories about our amazing colleagues, make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and follow the hashtag #WeAreRandox.
For further information about Apprenticeships at Randox please email RandoxPR@randox.com or phone 028 9442 2413.
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Response to release of specified minutes, notes and correspondence relating to Government contracts awarded to Randox
4th February 2022: Response to release of specified minutes, notes and correspondence relating to Government contracts awarded to Randox
A spokesperson for Randox said:
“It is clear from these papers that Randox contracts were awarded in full compliance with government procedures and protocols in place at a time of the emerging pandemic.
“The awarding of the contracts reflected Randox’s extensive diagnostics capabilities within the UK and 40 years of experience in that field. As Secretary of State, Sajid Javid says in his statement, the service Randox provided was integral to the rapid building, from scratch, of the largest ever testing industry in UK history.
“Randox’s laboratories expanded rapidly in order to operate at scale and were the first laboratory to report over 100,000 PCR results in a day. It is clear from these papers that the company has delivered a vital and core part of the UK’s testing capacity.
“Randox remains proud of its performance and delivery of Covid 19 testing throughout the pandemic. To date Randox has reported almost 24 million PCR results and has played a key role in both keeping people safe and sustaining vital national infrastructure.
“Unlike other laboratories Randox was able from the outset to provide whole-system capabilities to deliver the tests. Both the World Health Organisation and the UK government agreed this capability was crucial to combating the pandemic.”
For all media enquiries, please contact Ian Monk on ian@ianmonk.com or +44 7970 026072 / + 44 203 011 1933
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2 years on…since the development of the Randox COVID-19 Biochip
Wednesday 02 February 2022: 2 years since the Randox COVID-19 Biochip
February 2022 marks 2 years since the development of the Randox COVID-19 Biochip.
In February 2020, based on almost four decades of experience in diagnostic R&D, including the development of a CE marked panel of tests for fifteen respiratory viruses, as well as tests for SARS and MERS, Randox recognised the threat from COVID-19 and quickly developed a test to accurately identify the virus.
And a lot has happened since then…
Randox’s capability was recognised by the UK government and since March 2020 Randox has been contracted to provide COVID-19 testing support to the UK’s Pillar 2 National Testing Programme. The company immediately pivoted to move from a 9-5 business to a 24|7 operation.
Through the enormous effort and commitment of its staff Randox has (at the time of writing) processed more than 23 million gold-standard PCR tests for the National Testing Programme and for international travel – providing a reliable service to enable COVID-safe travel which facilitates personal, family and business engagements and activities during the pandemic.
Demonstrating its commitment to helping people live their lives as easily and normally as possible, and to enhance accessibility to travel testing, the company partnered with major airlines including British Airways, Easyjet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Cathay Pacific, and Jet2, travel providers such as TUI, and travel agents including the DNATA Travel Group, to provide discounted travel tests. By investing in testing capacity, logistic capabilities, and the introduction of a dedicated Customer Support team, Randox could make greater efficiencies that allowed it to reduce the price of PCR testing and become the most competitive service in the UK and Ireland.
During the 2020 Olympic Games, Randox got Team GB safely to the starting line in Tokyo by providing the Olympians with its premium COVID-19 testing, a service which it also provided for the ParalympicsGB athletes. A number of other sporting organisations opted to make Randox their COVID-19 testing provider of choice for their players and supporting staff, including the Irish Football Association, the US Men’s National Soccer Team, and Premiership Rugby, to ensure a COVID-safe training environment. Using Randox diagnostic technologies, companies like Norbrook Laboratories and Northern Ireland Screen were able to implement a staff screening programme that demonstrated a high standard of duty of care to their employees.
As and when required, Randox rapidly established new customer-focused services catered to the needs of the ever-changing travel testing guidelines. In May 2021, for example, Randox launched a ‘test to return’ service for UK holidaymakers returning home from Portugal and requiring predeparture tests before their return flight. In a first for the industry, passengers were able to take their PCR kit to Portugal and return their sample to one of Randox’s partner labs in the Algarve, before Randox flew the samples back to its labs in the UK for testing.
The company also provides tests for COVID-19 antibodies, as well as lateral flow testing services, where such tests satisfy international travel requirements, and has developed an innovative phone app to securely process and verify customer identification and results in just 15 minutes.
Randox has amongst the very largest laboratories in Europe and since the start of the pandemic has built, equipped and staffed 80,000 sq ft of PCR testing facilities, in Northern Ireland, Manchester and Greater London, and 50,000 sq ft of supporting logistic and engineering space. Randox has opened a number of mobile testing labs as well as almost 30 travel clinics, for COVID-19 testing appointments and over-the-counter home testing kit purchases. Walk-through and drive-through test centres have opened across a number of key airport locations, some in partnership with renowned travel services provider Collinson.
Randox is the only testing provider in the UK within this reporting period to have reported over 100,000 PCR results in a single day. Turnaround times for test results are rigorously monitored to meet the needs of both Government and private customers.
The company has more than doubled its workforce since 2020 and has developed a robust and comprehensive nationwide logistics network for the timely distribution and return of sample collection kits and samples. In collaboration with reputable partners including Morrisons supermarkets, Wells Pharmacies, Roadchef and PayPoint, Randox has established almost 200 PCR sample dropboxes and over 1500 click and collect sites, with the aim of improving customer accessibility and simplifying the process of COVID-19 testing requirements.
By responding rapidly, dynamically and cost-effectively to an ever-changing environment, with updates to travel testing requirements often being made at short notice, Randox has played an important role in managing the effects of the pandemic in both the UK and Ireland, facilitating safe social and economic activity, including international travel.
For further information on Covid testing services please contact the Randox Covid Customer Support team on 028 9434 3005.
For press enquiries please contact Amy Millar in the Randox PR team: randoxpr@randox.com
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Randox provides Team GB’s COVID testing for Beijing Winter Olympic Games
Tuesday 01 February 2022
Gold standard testing for Great Britain’s Olympians: Randox provides Team GB’s COVID-19 testing for Beijing Winter Olympic Games
As part of the two-year partnership between Randox and The British Olympic Association, the Team GB Olympians competing in the Olympic Winter Games 2022 have used Randox COVID-19 tests to ensure they touch down in Beijing free of COVID and have the best possibility opportunity to compete without the fear of being ruled out on health grounds.
The ‘stop the virus’ logistics drive mirrors a similar and highly successful regime which ensured that Team GB landed in Japan for the 2020 Olympic Games COVID-free, and that no athlete was forced to withdraw in Tokyo because of infection or close contact with someone who had tested positive.
Despite fears that the virus could impact Team GB’s Olympic hopes, the rigorous testing programme put in place helped UK sporting stars to rack up 54 medals – their best-ever performance at an overseas Games bar the 67 medals won in Rio in 2016.
To provide its gold-standard PCR testing services, Randox created a bespoke dashboard for Team GB to register its samples, which will be taken by the Team GB Clinical Team and then transported to the company’s laboratories which are located in Manchester, Greater London and Northern Ireland.
Randox is testing a delegation of 200 Olympians, coaches and support staff in order to meet China’s testing requirements and thereby minimising possible transmission of the virus in Beijing. Randox is providing each member of Team GB with four rounds of pre-departure tests and can offer rapid same-day testing on the day of flying as an extra precaution.
At the time of the announcement of the partnership between Randox and the British Olympic Association, in June 2021, Randox Managing Director, Dr Peter FitzGerald, said:
“We are delighted to be supporting Team GB by helping them get safely to the starting line in Tokyo with our premium Covid-19 testing services, the provision of which has been a major focus of ours since the outbreak of the pandemic. Over the last year, we have been investing significantly in our customer service and testing capacity, which means Randox can now process over 500,000 tests per day, making it the largest laboratory in Europe, and to date has processed over 13 (now 23) million tests. For this reason, our Olympians and anyone else who needs to travel internationally can rest assured that they will receive timely results.”
British Olympic Association CEO, Andy Anson, said:
“This is a fantastic and vital partnership for Team GB ahead of Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022. We have committed to our hosts in Japan and the IOC to ensure that our delegation is fully vaccinated and are also ensuring we have enhanced Covid testing in place. Randox’s pedigree in this area gives us great confidence that we are providing athletes with the best possible medical support around Covid testing and that they get to the start line safely ready to compete successfully for the biggest moment of their sporting careers.”
Randox, with almost 40 years of international diagnostics experience, has been at the forefront of COVID-19 testing since the outset of the pandemic. With proven testing capability and well-established logistics and customer support services, Randox are strongly placed to allow international travellers to travel with confidence.
Pictured with a Randox COVID-19 Predeparture Test is English freestyle skier Katie Summerhayes
For further information on Covid testing services please contact the Randox Covid Customer Support team on 028 9434 3005.
For press enquiries please contact Amy Millar in the Randox PR team: randoxpr@randox.com
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Contact us or visit Randox Health.