Ceteris (Scotland) Ltd. has supported local company and major tenant, Alva-based Omega Diagnostics to expand and assist in the UK-wide fight against COVID-19.
In conjunction with another tenant, Howdens based at Alloa Trade Centre, Ceteris ensured that a new laboratory was quickly created for Omega Diagnostics at Hillfoots Business Village (pic above) so that they could get to work immediately.
Omega Diagnostics in Alva is one of three companies in Britain asked to assist in a joint effort to prepare testing kits to detect Coronavirus antibodies.
The new laboratory was created in an adjoining unit to Omega Diagnostics’ large Alva worldwide base in only a few days with new worktops and a specially constructed packing area built with materials from Howdens, who shipped the materials next day to Alloa to ensure completion on time.
The project was worked on w/c 20th April, completed Friday 24th and 16 staff moved into the new packing area on Monday 27th.
The speed was required due to the ever-changing nature of the project and Coronavirus crisis.
Last Monday (20 April) Omega Diagnostics announced that it had signed an agreement to make up to 46,000 Covid-19 antibody tests a day on behalf of London-based biotech firm Mologic.
A material transfer agreement allowed Mologic access to Omega Diagnostics facility in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, to manufacture its Elisa test.
Then, only a week later as the 16 staff were moving into the new premises, Omega announced that it had CE-Marked Mologic’s first generation ELISA1 antibody test for Covid-19 to be used on patient samples sent by hospitals or GPs, ensuring that the test complies with EU regulations.
Angela Ogilvie, Operations Director at Ceteris said: “I am, so pleased that we at Ceteris have been able to support with constructing the new laboratory. It’s great to be positively contributing in these uncertain times and to see the how effectively and quickly we worked together with Omega Diagnostics and Howdens.”
Steven Dalgleish, Maintenance Manager at Ceteris, project-managed the development and said: “I’m so proud to have played a small part in the fight against Coronavirus and wish Omega every success with the testing. I would especially like to thank George, Johnny & Chris who were the guys who pulled this off for us. They’re based at Howden’s Alloa depot in Alloa in the Trade Centre.
Colin King, Chief Operating Office at Omega Diagnostics added, “I would like to thank Ceteris and Howdens for the speed of response to our request to fit out additional lab space. This was truly exceptional and has allowed us to be positioned to commence production of COVID-19 tests and meet our initial orders.
At the time of writing, shares in Omega have surged almost 700% this month due to their important COVID-19 work.
To find out more about Omega Diagnostics’ COVID-19 work, visit omegadiagnostics.com, for Ceteris enquires email support@ceteris.co.uk