Has anyone worked in a COVID test lab?

[biologists]

I have seen a lot of job adverts for working in the COVID test labs and I am just wondering if anyone has worked in one and what your experience was?

I have some limited experience in PCR and working in a biological safety cabinet but I have not worked at containment level three before. I also don't have a PhD but I have heard they have even employed undergraduates for the more entry-level roles?

I will email tomorrow for clarification but just wanted to see if anyone on here has worked in one of the labs.

Thank you

Are they really testing in a level three lab? I wouldn't have thought there were enough lab spaces readily available.
I've not worked in one but they'll be similar to hospital biomed labs I would have thought.
Look up good lab practice guidelines and diagnostic lab guidelines within the NHS or on PHE. Good luck!

@kshaw I think it's at level 3 until they deactivate the virus and then the rest is at level 2? I'm not sure though.

Thank you for the suggestions, I will definitely do the reading you suggested

Has anyone worked in a COVID test lab?
I'm sure someone has.

I meant has anyone on this forum worked in a COVID test lab. I shortened the title and figured it would be obvious what I meant, I apologise.

Hi, I'm currently working in a covid lab but within the NHS not one of the private labs. I'm in a support role though not a scientist.

The samples are decontaminated (sprayed with chemgene and wiped with tissue) in a safety cabinet.

The dry swabs have molecular grade water added, are votexed, aliquoted into tubes and capped in a safety cabinet. They are then heated for 10 minutes to deactivate the virus before they are loaded onto the analysers.

I think it's all classed as cat 2 but I haven't actually been told.

I book in and decontaminate. I was offered to do do deactivation as well but decided against it for reasons.

I don't even have a degree. Let alone a phd.

We have biomed students who have volunteered with us and they are able to do pretty much everything after training.

@Namechange170518

Hi, I'm currently working in a covid lab but within the NHS not one of the private labs. I'm in a support role though not a scientist.

The samples are decontaminated (sprayed with chemgene and wiped with tissue) in a safety cabinet.

The dry swabs have molecular grade water added, are votexed, aliquoted into tubes and capped in a safety cabinet. They are then heated for 10 minutes to deactivate the virus before they are loaded onto the analysers.

I think it's all classed as cat 2 but I haven't actually been told.

I book in and decontaminate. I was offered to do do deactivation as well but decided against it for reasons.

I don't even have a degree. Let alone a phd.

We have biomed students who have volunteered with us and they are able to do pretty much everything after training.

Oh thank you so much for all of that information, that is really helpful. :)

Can I ask what was the application process like? Was it quite standard with an interview and two references needed or was it quite fast-tracked given the rapidly changing situation? Just trying to mentally prepare for what to expect.

I didn't actually apply! I was already working in Pathology in another department and they asked for volunteers for 'a few weeks' to help out, and as my dept was quiet at the time I agreed. This was in April. I've not been officially seconded or anything. I have been trying to get back to my department for a while now.

I didn't think it would have been cat 3 as so hard to work in.

If get to interview make sure can explain how the different levels of laminar flow hoods work...I've been asked in interviews before.
I manage a cat2 lab within a university, we aren't licenced for diagnostic testing.