BuiltSpace and LuminUltra partner with UBC scientists to test cleaning protocols, reducing the risk of COVID-19 spread in indoor educational spaces

VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Biotechnology leader LuminUltra has partnered with BuiltSpace, a building data and asset tracking specialist, and scientists at the University of British Columbia (UBC) to test the effectiveness of disinfection efforts in educational settings for early detection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

"The battle against COVID-19 requires new thinking," says Rick Rolston, CEO of BuiltSpace. "We've made it easy and affordable for buildings of any size to collect and organize cleaning protocol data as well as the activities of people in that building. We believe that our technology and LuminUltra's testing solutions can empower Canada's education systems and building owners to optimize their cleaning operations to protect the people that move through their indoor spaces."

At the helm of the research is Dr. Martin Hirst, Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Associate Director of the Michael Smith Laboratories at UBC, and Head of Epigenomics at Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre at the BC Cancer Research Institute. Dr. Hirst and team will lead the research study using BuiltSpace technology as well as LuminUltra's complete testing solutions, which includes the gold-standard RT-qPCR testing devices, to detect SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces in under two hours.

Over the next eight weeks, LuminUltra, BuiltSpace, the UBC custodial team, and researchers at the UBC Michael Smith Labs will validate environmental infection control processes in two high-traffic buildings at UBC Vancouver. To do so, researchers will take almost 1,000 environmental test samples to understand the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 in academic buildings.

"The crucial information obtained from our work will arm decision-makers with measurable insight into the safety of their facilities," says Pat Whalen, Chairman & CEO of LuminUltra. "This knowledge can result in a variety of actions – like cleaning, contact tracing, and clinical testing – that can help keep students and teachers safe."

"Working with our partners we are committed to completing research that will inform policy makers on how tracking cleaning and surface testing processes can greatly improve the probability of safe environments for students, staff and visitors in indoor educational spaces," said Dr. Hirst.