September 17, 2026- Sysmex America, Inc. is supporting research into the future of anti-doping sample transport following the completion of a 1,000-kilometer drone test flight in Alaska. The International Testing Agency (ITA), in collaboration with the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI), part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Sysmex America, assessed whether blood samples can be transported safely and reliably over extended distances while maintaining their integrity.
Blood samples from healthy subjects were placed in tamper-resistant, temperature-controlled anti-doping kits. One group flew aboard the drone; a matched control group remained on the ground. Onboard sensors tracked temperature, pressure, humidity, vibration, and acceleration throughout the flight. After the flight, both groups were analyzed in the same on-site laboratory under identical conditions. Sysmex also provided financial support to enable the project.
Windracers’ autonomous heavy-lift drone completed the 1,000-kilometer flight over several hours from Nenana Municipal Airport in the interior of Alaska. ACUASI provided flight planning and execution, while Sysmex equipped a purpose-built satellite laboratory — installed in an airport hangar — with XN-Series technology. Dr. Sven Voss, director of the WADA-accredited laboratory in Dresden, Germany, operated the lab and ensured rigorous adherence to WADA’s sample analysis documentation standards.
