Inside the COVID-19 testing lab at UMass Memorial Medical Center

WORCESTER, Mass. — A historic challenge faced the testing lab at UMass Memorial Medical Center: virus testing on a level that has never been seen before.

“As you can imagine, when the pandemic hit, we needed a quick solution,” said Jessica Gatulis, the project manager for the COVID-19 testing lab at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

Using any space available, they even transformed a storage closet into a COVID-19 testing lab. It’s been adapt, overcome and problem solve since the pandemic began.

“At the end of the day, we’d be like ‘what worked, what didn’t work,’” Gatulis said.

Much like PPE, there has been a lack of essential supplies to perform the tests, like plastics.

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“So, we started using these centrifuge tubes, which are sterile, not a typical collection container and now most places in the country are using them,” Gatulis said.

When a COVID-19 sample from a patient arrives, it moves through a rigorous journey in the lab.

“It takes about 10-15 steps before we are at that point,” said Kathleen Delagorgendiere about how many steps it takes to get an actual positive or negative result.

The lab at UMass Memorial has some of the fastest turnaround times, around eight-to-nine hours once it arrives and a result is determined. Technicians and staff have been adapting and innovating while working around the clock.

“It’s been long days, long hours, definitely a huge investment in our time and dedication from all our staff to get this done,” Delagorgendiere said.

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