Recognising the significant link between athlete health and performance at major sporting events, the AIS got ahead of the game in 2019 by investing in portable Point-of-Care PCR test units that have been a crucial tool in managing Australian athletes and sports through COVID.
No bigger than a shoebox, the portable BioFire units can batch-test for respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens in about 45 minutes, essentially enabling the AIS to take rapid lab-quality testing into the field. The AIS has been on the ground manning the technology at major events such as the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics and now Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
The AIS's vast experience in the field means it was recently invited to deliver training to the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, a key component of Australia's disaster and emergency medical preparedness.
