Major League Soccer Chooses OPKO Health's BioReference Laboratories to Provide COVID-19 Testing for Players and Employees

Rhea-AI Summary

BioReference Laboratories, an OPKO Health company (NASDAQ: OPK), has been selected to conduct COVID-19 testing for Major League Soccer (MLS) players and staff during the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando, starting July 9, 2020. This partnership involves PCR and antibody testing to ensure a safe environment for the league's return. Additionally, BioReference is providing community antibody testing at the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets, which commenced on July 6, 2020. This initiative underscores BioReference's role in supporting public health amid the pandemic.

Positive

• Selected as the official COVID-19 testing provider for MLS, enhancing brand visibility.
• Conducting both PCR and antibody testing which could lead to increased demand for services.
• Engaging with the community through additional antibody testing programs.

Negative

• None.

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J., July 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BioReference Laboratories, Inc., an OPKO Health company (NASDAQ: OPK), will conduct COVID-19 testing for all Major League Soccer (MLS) players as well as match officials, and Club and League staff participating in the MLS is Back Tournament. MLS has chosen BioReference as its laboratory to assist in informing its return-to-play policies for the Tournament kicking off in Orlando in early July.

In addition to providing testing to players, match officials, and staff, MLS is working with BioReference to provide COVID-19 antibody testing to the Orlando community. MLS is supporting the latest community collection location at the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets, which began on July 6. The collection location is open Mondays through Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET.   

"We are honored to be providing testing solutions to Major League Soccer as it prepares to restart its season," said Jon R. Cohen, M.D., Executive Chairman of BioReference Laboratories. "The leadership of MLS worked diligently with us to develop a COVID-19 PCR and antibody testing strategy with the goal of providing the safest possible environment for the players, coaches and staff to begin to play again."

For more information, visit https://www.bioreference.com/coronavirus/employers-and-government-authorities/.    

About BioReference Laboratories, Inc.
BioReference provides comprehensive testing to physicians, clinics, hospitals, employers, government units, correctional institutions and medical groups.  BioReference has been working expeditiously to develop and offer test services that will yield high quality and accurate results, including a molecular test for helping with COVID-19 diagnosis and a serology test to help indicate possible COVID-19 exposure. The company is in network with the five largest health plans in the United States, operates a network of 11 laboratory locations, and is backed by a medical staff of more than 120 M.D., Ph.D. and other professional level clinicians and scientists.  With a leading position in the areas of genetics, women's health, maternal fetal medicine, oncology and urology, BioReference and its specialty laboratories, GenPath and GeneDx, are advancing the course of modern medicine.  For more information, visit www.bioreference.com.

About OPKO Health, Inc.
OPKO is a multinational biopharmaceutical and diagnostics company that seeks to establish industry-leading positions in large, rapidly growing markets by leveraging its discovery, development, and commercialization expertise and novel and proprietary technologies. For more information, visit www.opko.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA), which statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "projects," "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning, including statements regarding BioReference's antibody screening test, the availability of the test and the role and value of the information provided and its impact on decisions relative to the safety of employees and customers, as well as other non-historical statements about our expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding our business, technologies and products, financial condition, strategies or prospects. Many factors could cause our actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements. These factors include those described in the OPKO Health, Inc. Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed and to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, forward-looking statements may also be adversely affected by general market factors, competitive product development, product availability, federal and state regulations and legislation, the regulatory process for new products and indications, manufacturing issues that may arise, patent positions and litigation, among other factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA.

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SOURCE BioReference Laboratories, Inc

FAQ

What is OPKO Health's role in COVID-19 testing for MLS?

OPKO Health's BioReference Laboratories is conducting COVID-19 testing for MLS players and staff during the MLS is Back Tournament.

When did BioReference start providing COVID-19 testing for MLS?

BioReference began providing testing as of July 9, 2020, coinciding with the start of the MLS is Back Tournament.

Where is the community antibody testing being conducted by BioReference?

Community antibody testing by BioReference is taking place at Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets since July 6, 2020.

What type of COVID-19 tests is BioReference providing for MLS?

BioReference is providing PCR tests for active infections and antibody tests to identify prior exposure to COVID-19.

What are the operating hours for BioReference's community testing site in Orlando?

The testing site at Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets is open Mondays through Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET.