April 20, 2020

Rep. Mike Levin Honors COVID-19 Testing Innovator Tej Patel as his Constituent of the Month

San Juan Capistrano, CA – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) announced that Tej Patel and his team at Fluxergy, a local company developing rapid COVID-19 testing, is his April Constituent of the Month. Founded in 2013, Fluxergy, a medical diagnostic company, quickly changed their focus as COVID-19 spread across the world, and developed a testing system that can deliver results in under an hour.

See below for Rep. Levin’s statement recognizing Tej Patel in the Congressional Record:

“Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Tej Patel and his team at Fluxergy, a local company developing rapid COVID-19 testing, as my April Constituent of the Month. During this time of uncertainty and crisis, Americans are looking for beacons of hope in the fight against COVID-19. Tej and his team answered the call. Founded in 2013 by engineers Tej Patel, Ryan Revilla, and Jonathan Tu, Fluxergy, a medical diagnostic company based in Irvine, worked in collaboration with UC San Diego Health to create a testing system designed to diagnose COVID-19 in under an hour. 

“Tej saw a deficiency in the turn-around of testing for COVID-19, and knew there was a better way to address testing in the most efficient way possible. Many tests sent to outside labs range from days to weeks for a patient to receive their results. Fluxergy’s on-site test for COVID-19 requires a very small sample, typically a nasal swab. This swab is mixed with a reagent solution, loaded onto the Fluxergy card and inserted into the Fluxergy Analyzer that produces results in under an hour.

“During a rapidly spreading global pandemic, it is imperative to know the results of a patient’s test as soon as possible. The quicker we have results, the sooner we can implement proper precautions and care. Solutions like the testing system that Fluxergy developed can help us save lives.

“I launched a Constituent of the Month program to recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond to make our region and our country a stronger place for everyone to live and thrive. There are countless health care workers, first responders, grocery workers and many others who deserve recognition. Today, I am proud to recognize the Tej and his team’s innovation during this time of crisis for our country, which is both inspiring and encouraging. I am honored to recognize Tej Patel and the Fluxergy team as my Constituent of the Month and I thank them for being beacons of light and hope for our community as we fight this global pandemic together.”

Representative Levin’s Constituent of the Month program recognizes outstanding North County San Diego and South Orange County Residents who have gone above and beyond to help their neighbors, give back to their community, and make the country stronger. Levin’s Constituent of the Month for March was Esther Sterling, a Holocaust survivor living in Reata Glen Rancho Mission Viejo. His February Constituent of the Month local veteran Robert “Bob” Moore, one of the nation's first African American men to serve in the Marine Corps and last surviving Montford Point Marine. His Constituent of the Month for January was Aiden Cohen, a 17-year old North County resident who heroically rushed to the aide of his next door neighbor, pulling him from his fire engulfed home.

To nominate a resident of the 49th District to be the Constituent of the Month, fill out this nomination form.

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