PUTTING COVID TO THE TEST
TESTING for Covid-19 is key to slowing down the virus and keeping people safe – and boffin Tony Fearns, 31, is right at the heart of it all.
Since the start of the pandemic, the senior laboratory research scientist, who works for the Francis Crick Institute in north London, has been hard at work testing samples and training others to work with the swabs coming in from testing centres and hospitals across the country.
What’s your everyday job like?
Here at the biomedical research centre, I normally work on one of the deadliest bacteria on the planet – tuberculosis (TB). The favourite parts of my job are training new lab members and providing the techie expertise.
What is your lab doing for Covid testing?
I work with a fantastic team of scientists. We’re already trained to work with dangerous bacteria, so it has meant we can help to train other volunteers in the processes they need to use when handling samples that arrive from the NHS. Once the samples arrive, they are logged on the system, then hurried to the facility where we’re waiting to receive them. We then check the barcodes against the samples to make sure they match, then transfer the swabs into a machine, which inactivates any virus.
What are your main challenges?
Sticking to the strict procedures we have, as well as constantly crossreferencing the tubes to make sure that samples are properly assigned to their correct barcodes and none are lost.
How did you become involved in this?
From early on, we were asked if we’d be interested in volunteering to help train scientists who don’t normally work in the same type of facilities we do. I leapt at the chance.
How are you keeping safe and sane?
Members of our health and safety team have done a remarkable job in organising the rotas and getting everyone trained. We work in teams of three, divided into morning and afternoon shifts. Once the samples are on site, we have a bit of time to prepare the tubes and our work areas while the sample reception team catalogues them. Outside of Covid-19 testing, the lab has tried to keep things as normal as possible. We still have the usual timings for our one-to-one meetings, journal club and our own lab meeting – all virtually of course. We’ve also introduced a happy hour on Fridays to chat.
How are you finding it?
I am really optimistic about the whole situation. It’s been great to see so many people volunteering their time and skills to help others. I think the Crick has really come together to show what is possible when you have a can-do attitude. It’s also reminded me why research on tuberculosis, and other communicable diseases, is so important.
How does your family feel about you working so closely with the virus?
I live with my girlfriend Patty, her brother and another housemate. Patty and I are both scientists and have been together for almost eight years, so she’s used to the idea of me working with infectious diseases. The others have taken everything in their stride.
How did you get into this line of work?
I have always loved science, and did a degree in biomedical science. But it wasn’t until I was going on holiday to Zambia that I realised what I really loved. It was my first trip outside of Europe and I had to take medication to prevent certain diseases such as malaria. Understanding how these drugs worked, the biology and the effects these diseases have on people’s lives struck a chord with me. After that summer, I returned to university and chose subjects which were more infectious disease-orientated. I even chose a course module specifically on human parasitology. I was hooked and went on to do more research, which included time in Guatemala. Five years ago I arrived at the Crick labs. I love it.
CONTACTS
Careers guidance – technicians. org.uk
Francis Crick Institute – crick. ac.uk
It’s been great to see so many people volunteering their skills to help others