Multimedia Gallery - Keeping COVID-19 test samples safe

May 13, 2020

Keeping COVID-19 test samples safe

That’s where MaxQ Research Company comes into play. This small business in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with early-stage research and development funding from the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Innovation Research program, has developed durable thermal insulation materials with precise temperature control to keep specimens safe for transport. Initially created for donor, transfusion, and biologics delivery, servicing pharmaceutical companies, blood centers, and hospitals across the country, MaxQ, and their smart packages are now on the COVID-19 front lines. Their reusable, smart packages are self-sensing, and self-learning as they continually monitor the temperature inside the box, ensuring that blood, plasma, and swab samples stay viable for testing. The system can warn the courier and lab when a sample inside the package is about to expire and is equipped with GPS tracking. Smart Packages can be transported by ambulance, helicopter, and even drone. Helping in the fight against COVID-19, small companies can make a big impact.

Credit: National Science Foundation

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