Could Disney manufacture their own tests kits to aid park opening.

[barney 1314]

Everyone knows that Disney is its own animal especially in Orlando where it has created it's own energy company and has it's own security and fire service. Would it be in the realms of possibility for Disney to build it's own facility that produces it's own test kits with enough to allow around 15-20,000 people into each park and increase the number entering the parks as they produce more kits. I for one would feel more safe if I knew everyone in the park had been tested negative for the virus.
On the DIS Unplugged last night Pete said that Disney where losing around 30 million dollars per day because of this COVID-19. This loss is huge and may happen again in the future as it's possible that these types of virus's become the norm.
If Disney spent the money on this facility it would not only be used for the current virus but be able to adapt to any future virus's and could play a big part in helping the people in the Orlando area and beyond.
If getting a test before we enter the park becomes the norm, then I'm good with that especially as it will save the lives of people in the park and possible the people who are stopped from entering the park as they may be able to get medical help sooner than they would have.

Stay safe everybody.

 

[bookwormde]

unlikely they would/could stand up the infrastructure in the needed time frame

They have had a long standing relationship with Siemens so if they decided they needed to I think that might be the direction they would go

 

[barney 1314]

Wasn't aware of the relationship with Siemens but that's good to know. However if they had there own facility they wouldn't need to rely on anybody. I'm sure Siemens have more than just Disney as clients.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I’m sure they COULD, but they won’t. I highly doubt Disney wants to get into the medical business. It would bring all kinds of liabilities, HIPAA issues, etc that really wouldn’t be worthwhile for them to deal with.

 

[woodleygrrl]

ok I am deleting this one. not playing with the animals in the zoo today.

 

[minthorne]

yall know that Disney re-opening is not the most important thing in the world, right?

 

[woodleygrrl]

ok you are right. I am deleting this. Quarantine making me start things on-line that matter not.

 

[PamNC]

well this is a Disney forum .... and all of us love Disney. Nobody is saying it's the most important thing in the world. She has a right to post an idea or thought. Just my two cents.

 

[OKW Lover]

They have had a long standing relationship with Siemens so if they decided they needed to I think that might be the direction they would go

Siemens is no longer a sponsor in Epcot. Not sure if they still have a "relationship" with Disney.

 

[bookwormde]

Siemens is no longer a sponsor in Epcot. Not sure if they still have a "relationship" with Disney.

They still use the healthineering term for much of their business so I am thinking there is still some relationship

 

[dvcterry]

I think the secret’s in The Land. Somewhere between the fluted pumpkin and tomato tree. In between the Mickey melons. I seriously don’t doubt their capabilities.

 

[Nox]

To answer the question:

Disney would almost certainly not make their own tests. A lot goes into manufacturing anything medical related - licensing, registration, certification, validation. The FDA regulates manufacture of medical devices (which is what testing kits are). This doesn't even include the development, design, and validation of the tests themselves, all before manufacturing even begins.

However, Disney could reach out to a company already manufacturing the tests and contract the manufacture. Commercial manufacturers are responsible for the test kits going to hospitals. These manufacturers are already licensed and permitted to make the devices and already have developed, validated tests. Commercial manufacturers can be contracted to manufacture for companies. If Disney wants tests, are willing/able to pay for them, and able to find a manufacturer willing to make them for them (and able to source the materials), then yes, they can get their own supply. Doesn't have to be a company they already have a relationship with. They are a customer, they can hire a contract manufacturer to make them just like the hospitals can.

 

[RamblingMad]

I struggle with this idea. I can’t see them testing everyone going into the park in a timely fashion or making their own tests. It’s really not their wheel house. Realistically I can see them taking people’s temperature. But as I think about that at my own work, it presents a lot of challenges.

I still think it boils down to is whether the parks before a vaccine becomes available are worth going to given all of the attentional hoops folks are going to have to jump through. It’s going to be a very limited experience.

 

[barney 1314]

Lets assume for a minute they do go down the path of creating and testing before we go into the park. Would everyone be happy with this?
Also If they knew that everyone in the park was negative would that not mean that the parks could work as normal as no one could pass the virus on.
Oh and just to be clear Disney re-opening IS the most important thing in the world........in my opinion

 

[barney 1314]

To answer the question:

Disney would almost certainly not make their own tests. A lot goes into manufacturing anything medical related - licensing, registration, certification, validation. The FDA regulates manufacture of medical devices (which is what testing kits are). This doesn't even include the development, design, and validation of the tests themselves, all before manufacturing even begins.

However, Disney could reach out to a company already manufacturing the tests and contract the manufacture. Commercial manufacturers are responsible for the test kits going to hospitals. These manufacturers are already licensed and permitted to make the devices and already have developed, validated tests. Commercial manufacturers can be contracted to manufacture for companies. If Disney wants tests, are willing/able to pay for them, and able to find a manufacturer willing to make them for them (and able to source the materials), then yes, they can get their own supply. Doesn't have to be a company they already have a relationship with. They are a customer, they can hire a contract manufacturer to make them just like the hospitals can.

I understand what you are saying but everything Disney have ever done has been difficult, but it has never stopped them before.
In my mind if they can open a theme park in CHINA then they can manufacture there own tests. I take your point that it would take time and may not be up and running in time for this current virus but it could be in place for any future virus's.
I suppose what I'm trying to say is that every time there is an outbreak you wouldn't want to be joining a queue with other buyers while your company loses 30 million dollars per day.

 

[RamblingMad]

Lets assume for a minute they do go down the path of creating and testing before we go into the park. Would everyone be happy with this?
Also If they knew that everyone in the park was negative would that not mean that the parks could work as normal as no one could pass the virus on.
Oh and just to be clear Disney re-opening IS the most important thing in the world........in my opinion

The current test has a 70% sensitivity rate, meaning that it’s not accurate 30% of time.

 

[SirDuff]

The current test has a 70% sensitivity rate, meaning that it’s not accurate 30% of time.

No, it doesn't mean that.

First, there is both sensitivity (probably that someone with the disease will test positive) and specificity (probability that someone without the disease will test negative).

At an extreme, you could have a test with 100% sensitivity and 0% specificity (basically, everyone tests positive). If everyone tested had the disease, it would be accurate 100% of the time. If everyone tested didn't have the disease, it would never be accurate. You need to know the seroprevalence (% of people who actually have the disease/should test positive) to know what percentage of the time the test is accurate.

And then we get into positive (and negative) predictive values.

Sorry, my PhD is in epidemiology, so I just can't help but correct.

If you're interested, there is a relevant Twitter thread that I read earlier today.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1252593876763914241

 

[RamblingMad]

No, it doesn't mean that.

First, there is both sensitivity (probably that someone with the disease will test positive) and specificity (probability that someone without the disease will test negative).

At an extreme, you could have a test with 100% sensitivity and 0% specificity (basically, everyone tests positive). If everyone tested had the disease, it would be accurate 100% of the time. If everyone tested didn't have the disease, it would never be accurate. You need to know the seroprevalence (% of people who actually have the disease/should test positive) to know what percentage of the time the test is accurate.

And then we get into positive (and negative) predictive values.

Sorry, my PhD is in epidemiology, so I just can't help but correct.

If you're interested, there is a relevant Twitter thread that I read earlier today.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1252593876763914241

You’re still getting a lot of false negatives.

 

[fsjking]

Disney is not going to make their own tests. They are not going to test everyone at the park. I'd be highly surprised if they ever test anyone other than maybe employees. Even that is a stretch. There is a lot of liability doing that. They are better off testing no one.

 

[SirDuff]

You’re still getting a lot of false negatives.

Only if you have a high number of actual positives.

In this situation, what you actually care about is negative predictive value - if someone has a negative test, what is the probability that they are actually negative. This builds in the issue of prevalence.