Critique of “unfair” lab workers – industry leader

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Lab workers across the country believe they aren’t getting the recognition they deserve as they perform daily Covid-19 tests.

Laboratory workers in New Zealand process up to 40,000 Covid-19 tests per day. Photo: AFP

Laboratories process between 30,000 and 40,000 Covid tests per day, in addition to the roughly 200,000 regular laboratory tests they perform.

Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences president Terry Taylor said criticism from a small number of people regarding the competence and capacity of laboratory scientists was unfair.

“It kind of comes like a kick in the pants when people tell us we should be this, or should be doing that… and often there is very little support for what they’re saying.”

The institute represents around 4000 workers.

“Our field diagnostic laboratory response was clearly the only shining example of how a large, skilled workforce can be channeled to perform a specific task quickly and efficiently. “

He said unfounded reviews indirectly undervalue what scientists and lab technicians are doing in the field.

“We are in fact recognized health professionals in their own right and we in fact work in the most quality controlled environment of any other health care professional,” he said, adding that workers represented by the institute were also “experts in quality assurance and quality control”.

“As scientists, we fulfill all of these roles on a daily basis. “

Taylor said lab technicians were working very long hours to get Covid results.

“Basically from dawn to dusk and even late at night to get the results. “

“It’s pretty intimidating if you get 10,000 samples put on your desk every morning and you’re supposed to get them through really quickly.

“For people to throw spikes at us when we are really working at this extreme level is a little unfair,” he said.

Taylor said lab workers took up the challenge of Covid-19.

“It’s easy for those outside of the laboratory diagnostic testing environment in Aotearoa New Zealand to instantly blame those working tirelessly on the front lines for inherent system policy issues beyond their control. “

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