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The Big Ten Conference officially announced a partnership with Biodesix, Inc., and Quidel Corporation Tuesday, as the league works to reach its rigorous COVID-19 testing standards.
Biodesix, a leading diagnostic company with a focus on lung disease, will oversee and manage on site antigen testing sanctioned by Quidel, the manufacturer of the FDA-authorized SOFIA 2 SARS rapid antigen test, per release. Individuals who are presumptively positive according to results of this antigen surveillance testing will be referred to their own institution’s health staff for confirmatory PCR testing.
“Along with its medical and scientific capabilities as a certified laboratory, Biodesix is committed to helping the Big Ten meet [its] testing requirements and reporting protocols,” said Dr. Jim Borchers, co-chair of the conference’s Return to Competition Task Force medical subcommittee and Ohio State head team physician. “Quidel’s rapid antigen testing technology represents the ability to perform COVID-19 surveillance testing on a large scale with prompt results.”
Daily testing for all fall student-athletes in the also started Wednesday as football teams get underway with camp ahead of the season’s start on Oct. 24. Throughout this week, Biodesix administrators will be at every Big Ten campus, coinciding with the first shipment of the rapid antigen testing kits from Quidel. Biodesix and its designated contractor, Maxim Healthcare Staffing Services, Inc., will assume all day-to-day sample collection and surveillance testing responsibilities, per release.
As announced in the conference’s return to play plan, any football players who test positive will be put in quarantine and held out of all competition for 21 days. More information on testing protocol can be found here.
In Other News
Andy Katz doesn’t have Maryland men’s basketball making the 2021 NCAA Tournament in his first prediction prediction of this season.
Bracket Breakdown!@TheAndyKatz reveals his first #MarchMadness bracket prediction for 2021!
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) September 30, 2020
Top 4 Seed Lines
Last 4 In
First 4 Out
Next 4 Out
Hear more on the #MM365 pod:
https://t.co/zpcSxPxl97 pic.twitter.com/jFeV9Ym3lW
Former Maryland men’s soccer goalie Zack Steffen saved nine shots in his first shutout as keeper of Manchester City F.C. in its 3-0 EFL Cup win over Burnley yesterday.
Another start. Another dub.@zackstef_23 with his first clean sheet for @ManCity. pic.twitter.com/MMdNG3P69X
— Maryland Soccer (@MarylandMSoccer) September 30, 2020
The men’s soccer program also mourned the passing of Doyle Royal, at the age of 101, who helped guide the program to its first national championship in 1968.
We mourn the passing of a Maryland legend.
— Maryland Soccer (@MarylandMSoccer) September 30, 2020
Doyle Royal, who led us to the 1968 National Championship and 20 conference titles, passed away Monday at the age of 101. https://t.co/WO0LkTkkNx
Maryland women’s volleyball has been “getting after it” in the weight room.
We’ve been getting after it in the weight room ️♀️#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/md2zWSTKPP
— Maryland Volleyball (@TerpsVolleyball) September 30, 2020
Maryland teams continued to promote the “More Than The Score” campaign.
Terp Nation, we need your support more than ever.
— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) September 30, 2020
It's about More Than The Score. https://t.co/2VuXiqqrxB pic.twitter.com/wAduQAOuy7
The #DirtyTerps are putting in work, but we can't do it alone. Help us come back stronger than ever ⤵️
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) September 30, 2020
https://t.co/0V8Jrd3GWi pic.twitter.com/rZJmudG9Y7
Championships don’t come without support from EVERYONE.
— Maryland Women's Lacrosse (@MarylandWLax) September 30, 2020
We need yours now more than ever #TerpNation!
Find out how you can help ➡️ https://t.co/PBeD97G6gu pic.twitter.com/cnhSzRystv
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