There was an overwhelming demand for tests around the world, and entrepreneurs reacted quickly, pouring money into hiring staff, securing supplies, and building laboratories.

世界各地對測試有壓倒性的需求，企業家們做出了反應迅速地--把錢投入到僱傭員工、確保供應和建設實驗室中。

Together with more established players, testing capacity ballooned and a brand-new industry was born.

與更多成熟的參與者一起，測試能力膨脹，一個全新的行業誕生了。

But with COVID-19 testing requirements now easing, will the companies that helped get us through the pandemic survive themselves?

但是，隨著Covid-19測試要求現在的放寬，那些幫助獲得我們通過大流行病生存下來的人？

The rise (and fall?) of the COVID testing industry

There are two main types of COVID-19 tests: The gold-standard polymerase chain reaction, or a PCR test, and an antigen test, sometimes called a rapid or a lateral flow test.

Covid-19測試主要有兩種類型：黃金標準的聚合酶鏈反應或PCR試驗和抗原試驗，有時稱為快速或側向流試驗。

A rapid test can be taken at home and can return a result in as little as 15 minutes.

快速檢測可以在家裡進行，並且可以在短短15分鐘內得出結果。

A PCR test, on the other hand, can be taken at home, but then has to be sent off to a laboratory, like this one, where it is processed using special equipment, like this.

另一方面，PCR測試可以在家裡進行，但必須送去實驗室。像這個，在那裡使用特殊設備進行加工，像這樣。

Dr. Tony Cooke is the CEO of Cambridge Clinical Laboratories, a private lab based in the United Kingdom.

託尼-庫克博士是劍橋臨床實驗室的首席執行官，這是一家位於英國的私人實驗室。

So, the rapid test, essentially, is just a strip of paper.

是以，快速檢測本質上只是一張紙條。

And it's looking for the little spike proteins that are on the outside of the virus.

而且它正在尋找病毒外部的小尖峰蛋白。

And if they're there, you get a line, but you need a lot of them⏤you probably need a million to 2 million copies in the sample for it to work.

如果他們在那裡，你會得到一條線，但你需要很多。你可能需要一百萬到兩百萬份的樣本，才能發揮作用。

Whereas here, we're looking at a PCR test that'll just be sensitive down to tens of copies.

而在這裡，我們所看到的是一種PCR測試，它的敏感度只是低至幾十個拷貝。

Despite the COVID testing industry's global footprint, the approaches to testing by governments varied from country to country.

儘管Covid測試行業的足跡遍佈全球，但測試的方法各國政府的做法各不相同。

In the UK, for example, you could get a test either through the national testing program or through a private company.

例如，在英國，你可以通過國家測試項目獲得測試。或通過一傢俬營公司。

The government program here has generally been limited in scope and intended for people experiencing symptoms.

這裡的政府計劃通常範圍有限，而且是針對出現症狀的人。

So, if you needed a test for travel, you had to buy one yourself.

是以，如果你需要一個旅行用的測試，你必須自己買一個。

There are three main players in the COVID testing industry: Manufacturers who make the tests, providers who sell the tests, and laboratories who process the more sophisticated PCRs.

在COVID測試行業有三個主要參與者。做測試的廠家。 銷售測試的供應商。 以及處理更復雜的PCR的實驗室。

Sometimes a company provides front-to-back services, other times, a company does just one of these three things.

有時，一家公司提供從前到後的服務。其他時候，一家公司只做這三件事中的一件。

In terms of providers, you're looking at 800, 1,000 that didn't exist before COVID.

在供應商方面，你會看到800-1000個供應商，這些供應商在Covid之前並不存在。

In terms of labs, you're probably looking at another 30 to 50 labs.

在實驗室方面，你可能要再看30到50個實驗室。

Qured is one of those newcomers.

Qured是這些新人中的一員。

It was originally launched in 2017 as a doctor-on-demand service, but in 2020, the company spotted an opportunity it couldn't ignore.

它最初於2017年推出，是一項按需服務的醫生，但在2020年，該公司發現了這是一個它不能忽視的機會。

We suddenly saw this huge bow wave of demand from people booking our service, who didn't want to sit in a doctor's waiting room.

我們突然看到來自預訂我們服務的人的巨大需求浪潮，他們沒有想坐在醫生的等候室裡。

But the virus was circulating, a lot of our patients had COVID, and sadly, some of our doctors started to get COVID as well.

但是病毒在流通，我們的很多病人都有科維德。而可悲的是，我們的一些醫生也開始得到Covid。

So, we pulled the plug very, very early.

是以，我們非常、非常早地拔掉了插頭。

And it was, really, demand from our patients which drove our pivot towards COVID testing.

而實際上，是我們的病人的需求，促使我們轉向Covid測試。

Initially, Qured focused on helping businesses bring their staff back to work safely.

最初，Qured專注於幫助企業讓其員工安全返回工作崗位。

But it was really an innovation in rapid self-testing for travel that put Qured on the map.

但是，真正使Qured在地圖上出現的是快速自我測試旅行的創新。

We just started thinking about, "Well, how would I validate that it's you who's done it, that you've swabbed correctly?"

我們剛剛開始考慮，好吧，我如何驗證這是你？誰做的，你已經正確地刷過了。

So, we figured out that a video call was the way to really solve this.

所以我們發現，視頻通話是真正解決這個問題的方法。

This innovation resonated with British Airways and in February 2021 they launched a partnership with Qured.

這一創新引起了英國航空公司的共鳴，2021年2月，他們與Qured展開了合作。

From there, growth exploded, with the company striking deals with American Airlines and Heathrow Airport, as well.

從那時起，增長呈爆炸式增長，公司與美國航空公司和希思羅機場達成了交易。

So what was it like to run one of these COVID-19 testing labs during the heart of the pandemic?

那麼，在大流行病的中心期經營這些Covid-19測試實驗室之一是什麼樣子的呢？

Founded in 1982, Randox is an established diagnostics company that provides an end-to-end service.

Randox成立於1982年，是一家成熟的診斷公司，提供端到端的服務。

They manufacture, sell and process tests.

他們製造、銷售和加工測試。

Randox was one of the companies contracted to supply testing goods and services to the U.K. government.

Randox是向英國政府提供檢測產品和服務的合同公司之一。

The first day of testing within the government program, we received 37 samples and we had a capacity of 150 tests per day.

在政府計劃內進行測試的第一天，我們收到了37個樣品，我們有每天可進行150次測試。

By the end of 2020, we had a capacity of 120,000 tests a day and had built over 80,000 square feet of laboratory space and employed over 1,000 staff and equipped those laboratories and so on in order to provide that public service.

到2020年底，我們每天有120,000次測試的能力，並建立了超過80,000平方米的佔地面積為1,000平方英尺的實驗室，僱用了1,000多名員工，併為這些實驗室配備了設備。 等等，以提供這種公共服務。

Government contracts are lucrative, with Randox's reportedly worth more than $800 million in total, although the company is embroiled in an investigation into whether these contracts were fairly awarded.

政府合同是有利可圖的，據說Randox的合同價值超過8億美元。儘管該公司正陷入對這些合同是否公平授予的調查之中。

Randox says they were in full compliance with government procedures at the time.

Randox說他們當時完全遵守了政府的程序。

One of the biggest challenges during the peak of the pandemic was securing supplies.

在大流行病的高峰期，最大的挑戰之一是確保供應。

For manufacturers, that meant sourcing raw materials.

對製造商來說，這意味著採購原材料。

For providers, signing contracts with laboratories to process PCR tests.

對醫療機構來說，與實驗室簽訂合同，處理PCR測試。

And for laboratories, investing in equipment and lab staff to carry out the tests.

而對於實驗室來說，投資於設備和實驗室工作人員來進行測試。

We scoured the world to find every bit of resource and every bit of capability that we could to draw back into Northern Ireland to build up and strengthen these laboratories.

我們在世界範圍內尋找每一點資源和每一點能力，以便我們可以將其引回北愛爾蘭，以建立和加強這些實驗室。

We had to make some very critical decisions about raw materials and so on, and we invested hugely in bringing in raw materials to provide the service.

我們不得不在原材料等方面做出一些非常關鍵的決定，我們投資了在引進原材料以提供服務方面有很大的優勢。

In many cases, we had to do that at risk, because the decision to test by government was often lagged the supply time.

在許多情況下，我們不得不冒著風險這樣做，因為政府的測試決定往往滯後於供應時間。

How did you go about securing everything you needed, from the tests to the facilities to the people?

你是如何確保你所需要的一切的，從測試到設施到人？

It was a lot of legwork for our team.

這對我們的團隊來說是一個很大的腿部工作。

It was just picking up the phone and speaking to anyone who we'd identified might have the capacity.

這只是拿起電話，與我們認為可能有能力的人交談。

The government massively increased capacity here, and a lot of private laboratories who did other activities - whether that was testing for sports or for DNA Testing for forensics - all moved their capacity towards COVID testing.

政府在這裡大規模地提高了能力，而很多私人實驗室也都是這樣。做了其他活動--無論是體育測試還是法醫的DNA測試，都是如此。 - 他們都將自己的能力轉向COVID測試。

And then suddenly, there was a lot more capacity available, and a lot more potential partners for us to contract with.

然後突然間，有了更多可用的能力。以及更多的潛在合作伙伴與我們簽約。

It's been quite challenging, you know, we didn't have million sat in the bank.

這一直是相當具有挑戰性的，你知道，我們在銀行裡沒有一百萬的存款。

So, we grew organically.

是以，我們有機地成長。

We doubled in size in terms of staff.

我們的員工規模擴大了一倍。

we went from doing about 6,000 tests a year in oncology, and HIV, to 2,000 tests a day.

我們從每年在腫瘤學和HIV方面做大約6000個測試，變成了每天2000個測試。

So massive change.

如此大規模的變化。

During the peak of the pandemic, 90% of the tests Dr Cooke was running were for COVID-19.

在大流行病的高峰期，庫克博士所做的測試中有90%是針對Covid-19的。

As the pandemic rolled on, the government's testing capacity improved, but the private companies were kept busy doing corporate and travel testing.

隨著大流行病的發展，政府的檢測能力得到了提高，但私營企業的檢測能力卻沒有提高。公司一直忙於做企業和旅遊測試。

Once up and running, many of these companies made a lot of money, especially the providers.

一旦啟動和運行，這些公司中的許多人賺了很多錢，特別是供應商。

When you or I go to book a PCR test for travel, the cost can be anywhere from $50 to more than $300.

當你或我去為旅行預訂PCR測試時，費用可能從50美元到300多美元不等。

How do the companies arrive at that final price?

這些公司是如何得出這個最終價格的？

And who's making money?

那麼誰在賺錢呢？

For laboratories, they buy the PCR test from a manufacturer for $13 to $20.

對於實驗室來說，他們從製造商那裡以13到20美元的價格購買PCR測試。

They run the test using these machines, which are worth over $80,000 and often handle the logistics.

他們使用這些價值超過8萬美元的機器進行測試，並經常處理後勤工作。

They charge providers between $40 and $68, which covers these costs and makes them some profit.

他們向供應商收取40至68美元的費用，這包括這些費用，並使他們獲得一些利潤。

The middle-man providers then add a service cost on top of this when marketing the tests to travelers.

然後中間商在向旅客推銷測試時在此基礎上增加服務費用。

Prices can vary widely, depending on how quickly you need the results and on which provider you use.

價格可能差別很大，取決於你需要的結果有多快，也取決於你使用的供應商。

Every time we were able to lower our cost of goods from our suppliers, we pass those on.

每當我們能夠從供應商那裡降低我們的貨物成本時，我們都會將這些成本轉嫁出去。

We want to test as many people as we can through the pandemic.

我們希望通過大流行病測試儘可能多的人。

And we feel we've done a really good job of making it accessible.

我們覺得我們已經做了非常好的工作，讓它變得容易接受。

We've increased the top line and the bottom line of the company significantly throughout COVID.

在整個Covid公司，我們已經大大增加了公司的頂線和底線。

But as testing requirements ease and infection rates subside heading into warmer months, there is concern that these companies may struggle to stay afloat.

但隨著檢測要求的放寬和感染率的降低，進入溫暖的月份。人們擔心這些公司可能難以維持下去。

As we move out of the pandemic phase into the endemic phase, there will still be ongoing requirements for testing, but not to the extent that we've seen over the last couple of years.

當我們從大流行階段進入地方性階段時，仍然會有持續的對測試的要求，但沒有達到我們在過去幾年中看到的程度

When the infection rate drops naturally, suspect we'll probably stop doing COVID testing for the summer.

當感染率自然下降時，懷疑我們可能會在夏天停止做COVID測試。

The problem, according to Dr. Cooke, is that we will probably need to ramp up testing again in the near future.

庫克博士認為，問題是我們可能需要在不久的將來再次加大測試力度。

The government will want to turn it back on again in the autumn at a minute's notice, and it won't be there.

政府會想在秋天一有通知就再次打開它。而它不會出現在那裡。

So there needs to be some provision to maintain that capacity.

所以需要有一些規定來維持這種能力。

So how will these companies set up for COVID-19 survive the peaks and troughs of future waves?

那麼，這些為Covid-19設立的公司將如何在未來浪潮的高峰和谷底中生存？

For me, we built up this capability, we built up this expertise.

對我來說，我們建立了這種能力，我們建立了這種專業知識。

And at a time when the NHS is under extreme pressure to get through its backlog.

而此時，國家衛生系統正面臨著處理其積壓工作的極端壓力。

We can flex capabilities and flex resources and so on.

我們可以靈活運用能力，靈活運用資源，等等。

For those companies that have established perhaps as a purely COVID capacity, I think they need to really focus to the future as to what role they fill.

對於那些已經建立的也許是純粹的Covid能力的公司，我認為他們需要真正專注於未來，以確定他們扮演的角色。

Looking beyond COVID, there is hope that all this new testing capacity and willingness to test will revolutionize the way we think about preventative care.

展望Covid之後，所有這些新的測試能力和意願都有希望實現。檢驗將徹底改變我們對預防保健的思考方式。

A lot of the equipment and infrastructure can be used for other purposes, like cancer screenings, vitamin checks and cardiac diagnostics.

很多設備和基礎設施可以用於其他目的，如癌症篩查、維生素檢查和心臟診斷。

Now, a PCR is on everyone's lips.

現在，人人都在談論PCR。

Everyone is very familiar with lateral flow testing and so on.

大家對側流測試等都非常熟悉。

There's a greater understanding of the capacity and capability of diagnostics.

人們對診斷的容量和能力有了更多的瞭解。

I think there's also a greater understanding of the pressure that state healthcare systems are under.

我認為人們對國家醫療系統所面臨的壓力也有了更多的瞭解。

What happens to this facility as we emerge from the pandemic?

當我們從大流行病中走出來時，這個設施會發生什麼？

We see this facility remaining and its role orientating to stay in diagnostics, but to move towards general healthcare diagnostics.

我們認為這一設施仍然存在，其作用的方向是留在診斷領域，但要向普通醫療診斷的方向發展。

How do you see the industry evolving?

您如何看待這個行業的發展？

Is there a big opportunity in home diagnostics?

在家庭診斷方面是否有很大的機會？

I would like to think that there's a huge opportunity that could be taken advantage of to improve generally people's health.

我想，有一個巨大的機會可以被利用。的，以改善一般人的健康。

And let them get it and fix it.

並讓他們得到它並修復它。

It's also a lot cheaper.

它也便宜了很多。

We think that home testing has had a moment from being quite a marginal activity for people who might have been managing ongoing and chronic conditions or looking at STIs.

我們認為，家庭測試已經從一個相當邊緣化的人的活動，有了一個時機。他們可能一直在管理持續的和慢性的疾病，或者在看性傳播疾病。

Suddenly, every man, woman and child in the U.K., the U.S., Europe, most parts of the world has now spat in a tube or swab themselves for a result that tells them something about their health.

突然間，英國、美國、歐洲、美國大部分地區的每一個男人、女人和孩子都被帶到了一個新的世界。現在世界上有很多人在管子裡吐口水或用棉籤擦拭自己的身體，以獲得一個能告訴他們有關健康的結果。

And we feel that this is a breakout moment in home diagnostics and helping keep people well and keep people out of hospital.

我們認為，這是家庭診斷和幫助人們保持健康的一個突破性時刻。好了，讓人們遠離醫院。