Sign about waste from a sample preparation area of a COVID-19 testing centre

Sign “Sample Prep Laboratory (1-5)” outlining types of biological waste to be disposed of from sample preparation labs 1-5 on laboratory levels at Cambridge COVID-19 Test Centre, based at the Anne McLaren Building on the University of Cambridge Biomedical Campus, April 2020 - April 2021

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, all waste had to be disposed of safety and securely. Category 2 waste is high risk and had to be autoclaved - steamed at a high heat and pressure kill any micro-organisms.

Delivered in just five weeks rather than the normal six month fit out for a testing laboratory the Cambridge COVID-19 Test Centre tested 3 million samples. The Test Centre was originally a collaboration between the University of Cambridge, AstraZeneca, and GSK, staffed by volunteers from the three sites, many of leaving their studies or roles for a few months, or taking on additional jobs. Staff worked in shift patterns in the same role to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In June 2020, the testing centre transition to a directly employed workforce, rather than relying on volunteers. The laboratory was run by Charles River Laboratories with 200 staff.