Amidst a global pandemic, Oklahoma Christian University students and staff are working diligently to minimize the effects of COVID-19 in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences Jeff McCormack is leading the charge.
The Oklahoma Christian president’s office recently released information regarding McCormack and his team’s fight against the virus.
In mid-March, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expressed the increasing need for additional coronavirus testing.
McCormack reached out to an Oklahoma-based medical lab, Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma (DLO). After the institution confirmed their participation in test development, McCormack joined their team to assist.
Due to the severity and complexity of both coronavirus and its corresponding test, only labs considered highly qualified were able to work in the development of additional screenings.
McCormack, a board-certified high complexity laboratory director (HCLD), was considered an ideal candidate and started working Friday, March 13.
McCormack and his DLO team meet daily to purchase supplies and develop testing procedures while working alongside the FDA to ensure the lab complies with their restrictions.
On Sunday, March 29, the DLO team finalized the CDC test validation. McCormack reviewed and approved the test results and samples of the testing which immediately followed.
As of Sunday, April 5, the DLO lab can currently provide up to 360 tests per day, more than doubling what the Oklahoma State Department of Health was able to provide previously.
The most recent tally of COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma reaches over 1,400 individuals and over 480 in the Oklahoma City and Edmond area alone. There is no clear prediction of a potential peak, but the increased screenings and security measures facilitate some optimism.
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