SUNY Upstate Medical University to construct COVID-19 testing lab at University of Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — SUNY Upstate Medical Center will build a new laboratory at the University of Buffalo campus that will hopefully speed up the results of Upstate’s COVID-19 saliva tests at SUNY campuses across the state.

State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras made the announcement in Buffalo. Malatras says the new lab will be able to process 150,000 tests each week. The results are expected to returned to the campuses within 24 hours. The new lab is expected to be up and running by March 1st.

SUNY is investing $120,000 into the project. The additional funding will come from Quadrant Biosciences, a New York-based molecular diagnostics company.

SUNY is investing $120,000 in the expansion by purchasing the equipment to process Upstate Medical’s COVID-19 test at the new lab. Additional funding will be provided by joint partner Quadrant Biosciences, a New York based molecular diagnostics company. The UB laboratory will be staffed by Quadrant Biosciences in partnership with SUNY faculty and student medical researcher teams, as the site handles weekly saliva testing for all SUNY campuses in Western New York.

Upstate Medical and Quadrant Biosciences co-developed the Clarifi COVID-19 test, the world’s number one ranked saliva test according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The test is accurate for detection of all common strains of the virus, including the United Kingdom variant that has been found in New York and more than half of the States. The test also detects asymptomatic cases, which is crucial for SUNY campuses to safely reopen in the spring. FDA approval of Upstate’s saliva test allows for additional laboratories to be used for testing analysis.

Chancellor Malatras made the announcement today from University at Buffalo, as he met with President Satish Tripathi and Upstate Medical University President Mantosh Dewan. Chancellor Malatras also visited Buffalo State College President Katherine Conway-Turner. Both campuses were conducting pre-semester testing before in-person classes resume for the spring semester.

All students returning to campus are required to test negative for COVID-19 immediately prior to or upon return to campus, and students, faculty, and staff will be tested weekly throughout the semester primarily using Upstate’s saliva test to identify any new cases. Students testing positive may quarantine on campus housing or at their residence for the semester if living off-campus.

“Today’s announcement is the best of SUNY—an all hand’s on deck approach to collaborate to combat this virus—with Upstate Medical and UB joining forces to expand testing capacity that will help meet the challenge of weekly testing of all students, faculty, and staff on campus during the spring semester,” said Chancellor Malatras. “We also want to provide our testing outside of our college borders into the broader community, and this expansion will provide additional long-term capacity to do so. My thanks to President Tripathi, President Dewan, and President Conway-Turner, and their teams. Everyone at SUNY is important in our battle against this virus.”

SUNY Board Trustee Eunice Lewin said, “I am overjoyed to see students returning to our SUNY campuses for the spring semester so they may return to their studies. This is not to be taken for granted with the ongoing pandemic, and I know it has involved a dedicated focus throughout SUNY. My thanks to Chancellor Malatras, Presidents Satish Tripathi and Dr. Mantosh Dewan, and their teams for bringing the world’s number one saliva testing laboratory to Western New York, adding testing speed and capacity to help keep our students, faculty, and staff safe.”

University at Buffalo President Tripathi said, “Along with the health and safety guidelines already in place at UB, weekly surveillance testing using Upstate Medical’s COVID-19 saliva test will help ensure a safe and productive semester for our entire university community. We are very pleased to be able to host Upstate Medical and Quadrant Biosciences at UB.”

Upstate Medical University President Dr. Mantosh Dewan said, “Upstate is proud to now be operating a laboratory on the University at Buffalo campus to help process COVID-19 tests from SUNY campuses across the state. We thank President Tripathi and his team for making this possible so quickly. This collaboration is a wonderful example of how members of the SUNY system can help one another, and we are very pleased to be a part of this important project. Upstate’s advances in saliva testing have proven to be accurate and fast so it makes great sense to utilize this critical technology in order to help our fellow SUNY institutions reopen safely and allow students to focus on the spring semester with a sense of safety and peace of mind.”

CEO of Quadrant Biosciences Rich Uhlig said, “We are excited to be a part of this critically important project to expand COVID testing resources in New York State. Having just recently shared the MedTech Project of the Year award with Upstate Medical for the development of the Clarifi COVID-19 saliva test, this represents still another example of the great success of our ongoing collaboration with SUNY.”

Buffalo State President Conway-Turner said, “Buffalo State College is excited to welcome back our students for a safe, successful, and academically-engaged spring semester. While mask wearing, washing hands, and social distancing will remain a community priority and focus, I am proud of our dedicated COVID-19 response team for their tireless work to add a new layer of protection this semester—weekly surveillance testing for our on-campus population. I am especially grateful for the more than 200 faculty and staff members on campus for raising their hand to volunteer to assist with this important endeavor. We at Buffalo State thank Chancellor Malatras for his steady guidance during this challenging time in higher education and for remaining committed to making the student experience the best it can be.”