July 23, 2020
In response to the shortage of COVID-19 testing in the United States, Oakland University alumni Evan Tsang and his business partner, Erik Bogaard, have formed Task Force Lab (TFL), a California-based company that provides on-site testing to group living facilities and businesses.
“TFL came to be because we realized that there were gaps in the solutions that the market was bringing to bear on the problem of COVID-19 testing: either labs were not willing to go to people, or healthcare providers willing to travel often did not partner with labs,” Tsang said.
“In addition, labs were built to intake tests at random arrival rates, and testing — especially for nursing homes and companies looking to get back to work with some safety — would be scheduled and regular,” he added. “So TFL partnered with nursing services and a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited lab to schedule testing. This gives customers an acceptable turnaround time that they can also more or less bank on, because we don’t just sell tickets — we sell ‘seats on a plane,’ so to speak.”
TFL utilizes the Real-Time Fluorescent RT-PCR Kit to detect SARS-CoV-2, with results returned within 48 hours. The kit, manufactured by MGI (a subsidiary of BGI Group), was one of the first 20 tests to receive an Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA.
“We did not become certified as this typically takes one to two years, and we did not have that kind of time,” Tsang said. “So we partnered with a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited lab. This allowed us to shortcut the time to market, in a way, but at the same time, we created an agreement with the lab as to how we would operate, which is unlike a typical lab.”
The company currently provides full-service, on-site testing throughout Southern California, including Altadena, Santa Monica, Rancho Palos Verdes, Aliso Viejo and Irvine, as well as San Jose in Northern California.
“In eight to 10 weeks, we went from having an idea to serving several nursing homes and a couple of companies,” Tsang said. “It looks like we may be able to serve Los Angeles County soon, as well.”
Tsang, who received his Master of Science degree from Oakland University in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE), said he was working as a manufacturing engineer at General Motors and taking classes “for fun” when he was inspired to pursue a degree after meeting Professor Robert Van Til, chair of the ISE Department at OU.
“He asked if I’d be interested in pursuing a degree,” Tsang said. “I was, I did, and was an early student in ISE with Professor Van Til and Professor (Sankar) Sengupta as advisors. They are absolutely two of the best professors I’ve ever had.”
Van Til notes "Evan was one of our first ISE students, and he provided us with excellent feedback from a student's perspective that we used to improve the program. He has continued to support the program as an alumni. There are two things about Evan that do not surprise me. First, that he became an entrepreneur and created a company. And second, that the company has a focus on service to a community in need."
For more information about Task Force Lab, visit taskforcelab.com.
To learn more about Oakland University’s Industrial and Systems Engineering program, visit oakland.edu/secs/departments/ise.