Humboldt State University announced it is partnering with Public Health to locally produce desperately needed COVID-19 test kits.

According to a university press release, a group of HSU faculty, staff and alumni spent Thursday in the Department of Biological Sciences developing 1,250 test kits, supplies that are in high demand and short supply locally and nationally.

“We are pleased to do a small part in supporting the local health care professionals who are servicing our region,” said HSU Biological Sciences Chair Amy Sprowles in a press release.

For more information, see the full release copied below:

HSU Joins with Public Health to Produce COVID-19 Test Kits

A crew of HSU faculty, staff, and alumni spent a full day in the Department of Biological Sciences developing 1,250 COVID-19 test kits on Thursday.

As the nation rises to meet the public health demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinical supplies required are in short supply. To help local laboratories service the community, HSU Biological Sciences Chairperson Amy Sprowles collaborated with Humboldt County Public Health Laboratory Manager Jeremy Corrigan (HSU B.S.'04; M.S. '11) — along with four HSU alumni who work in his lab — and Humboldt State University Clinical Laboratory Scientist Laboratory Lead Judy Tengbom to produce sterile viral transport media for COVID-19 testing kits.

“We are pleased to do a small part in supporting the local health care professionals who are servicing our region,” says Sprowles.

The first 1,250 collection tubes were produced in the microbiology and biotechnology facilities on HSU’s campus by a team that included Microbiology Laboratory Preparator Benjamin Schafer, Core Facility Coordinator Dr. David Baston, Biological Sciences Faculty members Jianmin Zhong and Amy Sprowles, Chemistry Associate Professor Jenny Cappuccio and Wildlife Associate Professor Daniel Barton.

Supplies were donated by the Department of Biological Sciences Stockroom, Core Facility, Chemistry Associate Professor Kimberley White, and Biological Sciences Faculty members Mark Wilson, John Steele, Amy Sprowles and Jacob Varkey.