Whilst some of us have been lucky enough to work from the safety of our own homes during the lockdowns of the Covid pandemic, those working in the UK’s manufacturing industry have been less fortunate. To stay productive, UK manufacturing companies need a reliably present workforce to keep the cogs turning. But how is this achievable with the threat of 10-day isolation periods looming over workers and managers alike?
The future, it seems, will rely heavily on laboratory testing companies such as UK-based AlphaBiolabs. The company originally specialised in workplace alcohol and drug testing, but since the beginning of the pandemic has grown to offer return-to-work Covid testing solutions.
Unlike the government-issued PCR tests available to the general public – which can take days to see a result from – AlphaBiolabs offers two instant on-site tests: Antigen and Antibody tests. The Antigen test can tell if someone is currently infected within 15 minutes of completion, providing employers with crucial, real-time information on who is able to work on any given day. The Antibody test can tell whether or not someone has been infected before which, if immunity is proven to exist, will allow for rotas to be drawn up that group all those who have been previously infected.
Speaking about the Company’s tests, Rachel Davenport of AlphaBiolabs says: “Collectively, the tests can determine the current and historic infection status of an employee so that employers can make swift arrangements where one or more employees test positive. They can help companies limit a spread of infection within their workforce through rapid test results.”
Manufacturing companies will no doubt see a large increase in the adoption of these testing kits as the country continues to flirt with national and local lockdowns. If manufacturers wish to stay at full capacity, the data these rapid-testing techniques provide could prove invaluable.
Although the pandemic has closed many doors for many companies, it’s promising to see it opening new avenues for those companies able to provide a service to aide in the transition towards a post-Covid future, particularly in the Healthcare space.
“Collectively, the tests can determine the current and historic infection status of an employee so that employers can make swift arrangements where one or more employees test positive. They can help companies limit a spread of infection within their workforce, through rapid test results.”
