VentureLabs Company, Fusion Genomics, is one of the three Canadian companies involved in the Onsite Wastewater Testing Pilot at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Fusion Genomics provides the technology, processing, and analysis for the project using a targeted metagenomic sequencing approach called ONETest. This technology can detect and measure not only known COVID-19 strains but also novel or unexpected strains and other respiratory viruses, making it capable of testing and detecting all known and novel upper respiratory viruses.

Mohammad Qadir, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Fusion Genomics, says that this capability is absolutely necessary for the detection, forewarning, and prevention of future COVID-19-like pandemics and functions as an early warning system. Qadir also notes that as far as they know, this is the only system of its kind in the world at an airport, making YYZ an industry leader in infectious disease testing and prevention.

Fusion Genomics’ involvement in the Onsite Wastewater Testing Pilot demonstrates the company’s expertise in molecular diagnostics and highlights the importance of technology and innovation in public health efforts to safeguard the health of passengers, employees, and the general public in challenging environments such as airports.

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