Sign for equipment in use at a COVID-19 testing centre

Sign “Equipment in use” and "Equipment not in use" from the Cambridge COVID-19 Test Centre, based at the Anne McLaren Building on the University of Cambridge Biomedical Campus, April 2020 - April 2021

Working in a COVID-19 testing centre meant layers of Personal Protective Equipment including face coverings, which can make communication difficult. Shifts were also changing over with social distancing and limited interaction so signs like this one let other people know if the equipment was in use or not.

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.