The Lake Forest-based COVID-19 test provider is the testing arm behind the Let Them Play sports movement, which has filed multiple lawsuits against the state, and spurred guidelines that have allowed a number of high school sports to resume.
In Orange County, players and coaches involved in outdoor high-contact sports are required to undergo weekly testing, while some moderate-contact sports such as baseball, cheerleading and softball are exempt from testing requirements.
Inspire Diagnostics’ collaboration with Let Them Play is one of several programs that aims to facilitate safe and secure reopenings; the company also provides PCR and antibody testing to a number of dental practices, first responders, municipalities, churches and airliners.
“Our programs are customer-focused by design,” Chief Executive John Kang told the Business Journal. “We want to make sure we’re meeting their individual needs, and we’re constantly problem-solving.”
Scaling Up
Inspire Diagnostics was born out of Inspire Health Alliance LLC, a firm focused on value-based care and cost savings for accountable care organizations. It was launched by CEO Kang and President Rick Salas, who were roommates at Harvard University; the pair have previously run several medical software companies together.
Their first venture, Medical Manager Corp., was acquired by WebMD in 2000. They also founded iLIANT Corp., which sold to MED3000 in 2006 and later became part of McKesson Corp.
Last year, Inspire Health Alliance “evolved into” COVID testing and tracing, Sales said, even setting up a CLIA-certified lab inside of its Lake Forest headquarters to streamline test results in 24 hours or less.
The company also partnered with Unisys Corp. (NYSE: UIS) to provide its customers with software and security services, systems integration capabilities, as well as onsite technical support and field services.
“We knew managing the testing data would be an important part of the equation, and we wanted to wrap technology around our test offerings to provide a complete solution to businesses,” Salas said.
The ongoing partnership with Unisys has provided a significant uptick in Inspire Diagnostics’ orders, he added, prompting the company to have its lab running seven days a week, and growing from four employees to over 75.
Expanding Access
Inspire Diagnostics expects a record year of sales in 2021, north of $10 million, as more industries reopen and vaccines rollout, Salas said.
It’s launching modular pods and vans with Black and Veatch; the units are temperature-controlled and capable of storing testing samples, vaccinations and clinical supplies.
Some of its pods are already being used at distribution centers and shipping ports, where they can test and process about 3,000 to 5,000 employees per day, while it’s vans are launching throughout Southern California this month.
The company has also started COVID testing programs for large airlines that need to screen their crews, and is in talks to work with cruise lines. Cruise liners are expected to develop testing regimes for employees starting next month, ahead of passenger cruises that could begin this summer, Salas said.
Inspire Diagnostics will also seek to provide vaccines as supply becomes available and adapt its technology to provide a digital health passport.
