Sign relating to laboratory waste at a COVID-19 testing centre

Sign “Liquid/Solvent Waste” relating to biological waste produced the RNA extraction 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

Laboratory testing uses a range of items, which often have to be discarded after a single use. At this part of the COVID-19 testing proceess, liquids needed to be diposed of safely and preventing liquids was of the upmost importance. All jerricans had be labelled with contents.

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.