Unsung Warriors: Medical Lab Scientists Who Are Fighting Covid-19

They are the hidden heroes in the COVID-19 pandemic – the medical laboratory scientists who work behind the scenes battling the viral outbreak. Like detectives seeking a suspect, they search for evidence of the novel corona virus in swabbed body fluids. Wearing layers of protective garb, they work overtime to get results as quickly as possible so patients receive the right diagnosis and treatment. Laboratory professionals have had to make changes to adapt to coronavirus demands. Rutgers School of Health Professions alumna Heba Hanafy , BS MLS ’11, is a microbiologist at a Bergen County medical center whose usual job is processing routine blood cultures and tissue specimens, conducting flu tests, and running panels to identify the best antibiotic for an illness. To read the full story.