Viral Transport Medium to Meet the Demand for COVID-19 Testing in the UP
Why This Project Is Important
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, has infected more than 27 million people worldwide. In the United States alone, more than 6 million cases of SARS-CoV-2 have been reported with more than 118,000 cases and 6,810 deaths confirmed in Michigan. Given the number of patients who need to be tested, it has become very difficult to obtain viral transport medium (VTM). VTM is used for preservation of the specimens during transportation and/or storage at a testing facility.
Project Description
To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, patients or suspected patients who have come into contact with infected patients have to be tested and quarantined (if positive). Specimens collected from COVID-19 suspected patients, for testing, are put into viral transport medium (VTM) for preservation of the specimens during transportation and/or storage at a testing facility. Given the number of patients who need to be tested, it has become very difficult to obtain VTM. To fill this void, Michigan Technological University has been preparing and supplying VTM (as shown in the picture) to the local hospitals and clinics. So far, Michigan Tech has supplied VTM, for ~2000 samples, to four hospitals/clinics in the Upper Peninsula (UPHS-Portage, Baraga County Memorial Hospital, Houghton County Medical Care/Canal View, and OSF-St Francis Hospital).
In order to continue to provide this service to our community, we need your support/contribution. Help us so that we can prepare more VTM for testing. Anything you can contribute will make a difference.
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What Your Donation Can Help Us Do:
- Prepare and supply viral transport medium to the local hospitals
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