LINCOLN- Abe Oommen created a portable testing platform that was so easy to use that a farmer could use it on livestock to check for various diseases and get results fast. Both Oommen and his colleagues at MatMaCorp knew rural Nebraskans were facing long wait times for COVID-19 results and under took development of a test and portable lab that fits in a backpack. MatMaCorp is now one of the nine companies sharing the funding that the National Institute of Health is putting into testing technologies. The companies will be sharing $129.3 million, the NIH also put out a third round of awards which brings their investment total to $476.4 million.

Kearney Regional Medical Center is testing the device and will soon start using the technology to screen employees who have had high levels of exposure. As of now, Kearney Regional sends their tests to UNMC which requires sending the samples by courier which lengthens the wait time for test results. This testing technology will allow for underserved rural communities to get quick and reliable testing.

MatMaCorp has previously collaborated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Homeland Security on a test for congestive heart failure and African swine fever.

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