At the height of the pandemic, when vendors were knocking down our door, we needed 10 Chris Kots.
Alas, there is only one, but with superhuman capacity.
Our evaluation coordinator identifies and evaluates new technology and progresses it to laboratory testing or clinical trial. But COVID-19 added a new dimension to his working life.
Since the pandemic began in 2020, he has evaluated over 1500 potential PoCT COVID-19 solutions.
These included assessing more than 35 rapid antigen testing (RAT) kits for suitability to staff screening, then re-evaluating them to see which could detect COVID-19 variants.
It was Chris who saw COVID potential in Roche’s Liat rapid testing platform. In 2021, 140 were brought online, performing 200,000 tests and providing results to clinicians and public health teams within 30 minutes.
He led HealthShare’s eagerly awaited RAT tender, which channelled competing vendors into a competitive and appropriate selection process, allowing NSW businesses to procure kits with confidence. He led the schools’ RAT feasibility trial which informed rollout strategies and the return-to-school policy.
He helped the Australia Government with policy development; NSW Government agencies with scientific advice and information; and established and managed the Newcastle COVID-19 Rapid Testing Centre.
His evaluation work, particularly for COVID solutions was truly inspiring. He would complete his normal evaluation work, return home to his young family for dinner, then return to our John Hunter Hospital laboratory to complete technology assessments and comparisons.
At no stage did Chris endanger himself or the staff around him. He always wore personal protective equipment and used biosafety cabinets. Not once did he contract COVID-19.