Media Update, page-146

New interview just popped up. Innovative Rapid Testing | John Kelly | The Informer (7:39)
(initial general chat about John's background, AT1 mgmt team + tech and a lot of talk around Covid19 tests; gets more interesting ~4min onwards...)


Interesting to hear John's comments below - gives a small glimpse of current biz status...
- (asked about Covid19 tests) "...launched Ab tests a few weeks ago. Launching Ag tests end of this month"

- (asked if AU gov/states could adopt the RDTs for hotel quarantine tests) "there is no reason why they couldn't put a RDT in every room, have the quarantined person do the test, slide the results under the door, nobody has to risk themselves interacting with the quarantined person"

- "AU has been slow to adopt rapid POCTs, market much more advanced in US and EU, tests done in doc offices, pharmacies etc...partly b/c of public policy. The pathology groups have an awful lot of influence with reimbursements/approvals, very much embedded in public health sys, a natural default to lab testing. While lab testing is good for lot of programs, it doesn't give you rapid turnaround...that 2day turnaround time doesn't work out if you want to work out who gets on a plane. That's where we think there is a need....." (then mentioned US/UK millions of test purchases, Slovakia national testing)

(asked why John is not reaching out to Alan Joyce (Qantas CEO) to get these RDTs in use for all travel)

_{(my opinion - felt like John avoided answering the Qantas Q directly? something in his eyes appears to shift when asked about it...ongoing discussions, can't share yet? )}

"..there is now biz in Australia for rapid tests". Then mentioned the China mandatory entry requirement for PCR + RDT test. "...believe this will become a global travel requirement"

"...we are in discussions with airlines, travel companies, also resource companies. The corporate private sector is very keen to get back to work but without public policy support, its very difficult for private companies to move forward, so that's part of the challenge"

"The US and EU are already rolling these tests out..I think there will be testing for Abs as part of the delivery of vaccines to show who needs to be prioritised and also who has had the vaccine and has been successful. So there is definitely a requirement for rapid testing globally. We are doing a lot of biz overseas and hopefully AU will catch-up"