Like most businesses, our business faced a dilemma when lockdown hit – how could we continue to keep employing staff, whilst keeping them safe and still operate successfully?

When the coronavirus pandemic hit the UK in March, workplaces had to implement new procedures and equipment in a bid to keep their businesses going. Social distancing guidelines meant that less people could work at any one time. Split shifts, staggered work hours, furloughed employees, PPE and staff working from home became the new norm.

Many months on, with the latest official figures showing that employment fell by the largest amount in over a decade between April and June and the potential for a second wave over autumn/winter, what can businesses do to keep their workplaces safe and operating effectively?

COVID screening provides reassurance
Implementing regular COVID-19 screening tests can provide much needed reassurance to staff, whether they are key workers or those keeping day-to-day operations going. COVID-19 antibody screening kits for UK workplaces, can provide both onsite and laboratory-based testing.

Our traditional business model was drug and alcohol testing, but when the lockdown was initiated, businesses closed, employees were sent home and sample collectors were no longer able to access sites for random collections. In addition, visitors to its nationwide Walk-in Centres (usually based within NHS centres) were discouraged.

“Instead of halting operations, we had a strong desire to help the national effort and branched out into COVID-19 testing”, said AlphaBiolabs Commercial Director Rachel Davenport. “In this way, we could keep our in-house scientists employed, and could continue to support our loyal customers by ensuring their workforces were also safe to keep working.”

The move towards coronavirus testing meant that safety procedures in the laboratories needed to be upgraded. Class II biological safety cabinets and mechanical air ventilation were installed to help protect the scientists working in the laboratories. Split shifts were implemented so less laboratory personnel would work together at the same time, allowing them to observe social distancing and enhanced hygiene measures, more easily.

Other safety protocols were also added to the sample collection process to help protect the company’s network of sample collectors. Access to regular COVID-19 antibody screening also provided reassurance to all members of staff.

The COVID-19 antibody screening test (also known as a serological test) analyses a blood sample to assess whether an individual has previously been infected with the COVID-19 virus. The test can be performed by a sample collection technician equipped with PPE such as a N95 facemask, face shield and medical gloves, or a company’s own health professional, and will show whether a person has an active infection (IgM) or has previously been infected by the COVID-19 virus (IgG) within 15 minutes of taking the test. Unlike many other tests, this cost-effective option can identify the coronavirus infection from 21 days after exposure to the virus or 7 days onwards after the onset of symptoms.

Rapid antibody testing on site
The test was formulated following an extensive review of the technical data of all COVID-19 immunoassay devices available. It was determined that the German-made IgM-IgG Antibody Rapid Test was the most accurate and reliable. The rapid screening kit has been widely used in Germany to identify a body’s response to COVID-19 infections. Its reliability and accuracy have now been deemed ‘fit for use’ during a recent NHS evaluation.

The rapid IgM-IgG combined antibody test, this portable lateral flow immunoassay instant screening device is ideal for on-site use. The CE-marked, single use test analyses a finger-prick blood sample to detect a body’s immunological response to an active or recent exposure to COVID-19. It does this by detecting both early and late marker antibodies.

The detection of IgM antibodies indicates a current, ongoing COVID-19 infection. Detection of IgG antibodies indicates a later stage of infection. Thus, this combined antibody test can provide information on the stage of infection, highlighting a recent infection that may still be active (IgM) or a previous infection (IgG).

However, when using this test, employers must be mindful that there isn’t yet any clinical evidence to prove immunity if someone has had a previous Covid-19 infection, or how long any potential immunity may last. Although it can be useful to build up a profile of staff who have been infected, in case having COVID-19 does indeed prove to hold some kind of future immunity. This is still a subject of investigation around the world.

“The antibody test can show is whether any employees have an active infection of COVID-19 or if it has already spread through a workforce” said Rachel. “This can help managers identify high-risk environments and spot patterns of infection”.

Knowing this information means that measures can be put in place to minimise future risks of exposure. The whole test takes less than 15 minutes to perform and to get the results. There is no need to send any samples back to the laboratory for testing. With regular COVID-19 screening and its extra safety procedures in place, results turnaround times are quick.

Identify the virus early
The gold standard in COVID-19 testing is the PCR Swab test (also known as an antigen test), which looks for evidence that the COVID-19 virus is currently in an individual’s throat or nasal cavity by detecting the presence of viral RNA in a swab sample. By detecting RNA, which will be present in the body before antibodies form or symptoms of the disease are present, the tests can determine whether or not someone has a COVID-19 virus infection very early on. AlphaBiolabs is now able to offer this test too, to its workplace customers.

Unlike the antibody test, no blood sample is needed. The sample collection involves a sterile viral collection swab (which looks like an extra-long cotton wool bud) to collect a sample from the nasal and throat areas. The sample collection is simple to perform and collection kits can be dispatched so that employees can administer the COVID-19 PCR test themselves. Alternatively, AlphaBiolabs’ sample collectors, a company nurse or occupational health professional can perform the collection.

When returned, the samples are tested using the latest cutting-edge automated PCR extraction methods – a process called real time polymerase chain reaction (rt PCR). If there is viral RNA present, this process starts a ‘chain reaction’ and creates billions of copies of the genetic material contained within the virus. This ensures there is enough genetic material for detection and analysis by scientists, so that a positive result can be obtained. In the event of no COVID-19 RNA being detected, the sample is reported as being negative.

“Results are returned within 1–2 days, from receipt of the samples in our laboratory, direct to the company if they are the instructing party”, said Rachel. “Employees with negative results can safely return to work. Any asymptomatic carriers can be immediately isolated and removed from the workplace to avoid future spread.”

Regular testing for COVID-19 can enhance confidence and provide assurance for your employees, customers and business partners. Absenteeism can be reduced due to unnecessary self-isolation, leading to reassured employees and increased productivity. Together with other safety measures, such as sanitising stations, socially-distanced desks and staggered shifts, regular COVID-19 testing can help to keep your workplace safe and operating effectively.

For further information on our two workplace COVID-19 tests: IgM-IgG Combined Antibody Rapid Test or our COVID-19 PCR test, please email workplace@alphabiolabs.com or call us on 0333 600 1300.