Candid Journal Entry #18: The Tests Continue

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         Are things getting better in terms of sustainability in the lab? Well, the stats should say it all.

         Compared to the last picture I posted over a month ago, there has been an increase in workload. About 18.8% compared to April. Of course, we are still a far cry from our volume from the beginning of year.

         As much as I would like to celebrate, we are operating understaffed. My colleagues and I are starting to feel the pressure of mounting volume. Several coworkers retired during this period. Some others left for better opportunities. That combination makes work a bit hectic even with supposed lower workload.

         The pandemic also threw wrenches into the supply chain. We have had several instances of inconveniences of running out of supplies. Turned out, our suppliers weren't well-prepared either. Their production is a mess and we wind up with things back ordered. This included specific media or personal protection equipment. So, in the mean time, we improvise.

         We are also to the point that we sometimes run out of biohazard bins. Those are the bins for my department, but it's filled with waste products from COVID testing. The molecular department has long exceeded their allotted number of containers. Now, they are spilling over to neighboring departments.

         The amount of testing going on over there is definitely ramping. A lot of the molecular staff are tired of the overtime, but it must continue. A handful of employees in leadership positions are now performing the tests. They are more flexible than the other lab personnel in terms of scheduling.

         The upside to this madness? Being busy helps passing time. The last few weeks flew by.



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9 comments
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A question since you showed the medical waste bins. Where do you and your co-workers dispose of face mask when you have to use them? In the medical waste bin, or in normal trash bin?

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The disposable masks are in the biohazard bins.

N95s used on the floor can be disinfected for reuse.

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So do you all these people wearing mask and throwing them in just plain garbage are all in violation of most medical waste disposal regulations?

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No idea.

We chuck ours into bio bin because we work closely with the molecular department that actually does covid testing.

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Missed this. Your reports from inside the lab give us a unique insight on what it's like "inside". News reports are second hand. First hand, more reliable.

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