Sign for lab coats in RT-PCR room at a COVID-19 testing centre

Sign “Lab coat change zone” with an orange hexagonal symbol and a yellow biohazard symbol, from the Pre-PCR and RT-PCR Analysis rooms on level 2 at Cambridge COVID-19 Test Centre, based at the Anne McLaren Building on the University of Cambridge Biomedical Campus, April 2020 - April 2021

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is vital for the health of those testing COVID-19 samples. Kit is put on in a specific order, knowing as donning, and then removed in reverse order known as donning. This helps control and prevent infection.

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 during its year of operation. 14 robots speeded up the testing rate by six times. 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. Volunteers 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.