An engineering professional drawing on several decades of experience, Steve Verschoor co-founded GTSP Global Inc., a Boise-based energy firm. Subsequently, Steve Verschoor founded Washington-based Molecular Testing Labs (MTL), an organization focused on the development of protocols and innovative medical testing solutions for the detection of contagious diseases, including COVID-19.
Currently, multiple COVID-19 tests are available which test for either a past or current infection. A serology test, also called an antibody test, tests for past infection, and does not diagnose a current infection. A viral test, on the other hand, can detect a current infection and will be one of two types – an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT).
Generally, various tests are conducted using fluid samples with the aid of special testing devices. These samples include:
Saliva samples: Rather than using a nose or throat swab, saliva samples are collected using a tube into which a patient provides saliva.
Swab samples: Using a cotton swab, samples are collected from the nose or throat.
Blood samples: Used for antibody tests, blood samples determine if a patient has been infected by the virus in the past. These samples are collected by healthcare professionals.
Steve Verschoor 