It’s no secret that the Coronavirus pandemic has made finding and maintaining steady employment arduous. In around August of 2020, I was struggling to look for casual employment in the places students would normally, such as retail or hospitality.With my search turning up nothing, I eventually came across a job as a Covid tester. It sounded different, it would mean I would be able to contribute to the pandemic in some way, and the pay wasn’t bad. I found myself applying as the specification stated healthcare experience was not required. After almost 6 months in the job, I can honestly say it’s one of the most interesting roles I am ever likely to have.

I’m actually really squeamish when it comes to medical stuff…
Once I had applied and was accepted for the role via telephone, it dawned on me that I would be physically swabbing people’s throats and noses. I had seen how the tests were conducted on videos and I began to feel anxious about the job. It doesn’t sound like such a big deal and now it feels completely normal to me, but as someone who has always avoided doctors and hospitals out of fear of being injected and swabbed, it was daunting for me. I remember the first person I swabbed during training, shaking and stuttering my way through. However, after about 3 supervised tests, it became habit and I fell into the role easily. I became confident carrying out tests on my own and felt able to handle any situation thrown at me.

The PPE…
Ah yes, PPE. That 2020 buzzword. Of course all testers have to wear PPE whenever we are in our cabin. We have to have a hotwash up to the elbow every time we leave and come back into the cabin. We have to wear aprons or gowns, and gloves, both of which we change after every swab. We also wear masks and then visors or goggles to protect our eyes. These are both for sessional use so we change them less frequently, however, if we are coughed or sneezed on then we must change them immediately. We also have to wash our hands before and after every swab with hand sanitizer. I counted one session and I must have sanitized my hands a good 300 times in one morning. I thought I would feel immensely compromised being in such close contact with the virus, but in truth, I am more likely to catch Covid at a trip to the supermarket than I am through work.

The actual procedure…
Cars pull up to the cabin and wind their windows down. We then introduce ourselves, explain the test procedure and gain consent. For those under 18 we have to ask for parent or guardian consent. We will then ask you to blow your nose, which is incredibly attractive I might add. The test itself is a swab at the back of the throat and on both tonsils (or where the tonsils would sit if they have been removed), and then the same swab goes up one nostril for about 10 seconds. We also ask if there are any cuts or ulcers in the mouth or nose, as the swabs become invalid if they touch broken skin. This is the time to tell your tester if you have a preferred nostril for the swab if one is particularly sore, prone to nosebleeds or pierced. The whole procedure lasts less than a minute. We then go back into out cabin and put your swab into a vial and then into a bag. It is then sent off to be analysed and your results come through by text or email.

This sounds straightforward enough but there are always people who are nervous, scared or have heard awful myths about the test.  Over dramatic people ring up radio stations saying it’s the worst thing they have ever done. (and they have normally done it themselves!) People tend to listen to this on the radio in their car on the way to the test centre, and by the time they make their way to me, they have worked themselves up. Let’s set some of those myths straight:
1. I will be sick…
You won’t. I have swabbed hundreds of people and I have yet to have anyone be sick on me. Most people gag (myself included!), but nothing ridiculous. Interestingly, men seem to gag more than women, but the swab is not at the back of the throat for very long, so it’s over before you know it. Those who are sick tend to know as it is due to a preexisting condition and therefore come prepared. (We do have sick bags to hand out in case). However, if you’re not prone to being sick then you will be absolutely fine.
2. The nose swab is poking my brain out…
It isn’t. We are instructed to place the swab up the nose only until you feel a bit of pressure. We then twirl the swab for 10 seconds. It is a bit tickly, so I always advise people to take deep breaths to help with this.
3. It hurts…
It doesn’t. It feels strange but it doesn’t hurt. The nose swab will make you feel like you want to sneeze and the throat swab mostly tickles, but the test will not hurt or harm you in anyway. If you are feeling nervous or frightened, I would advise you let your tester know. Some people like to take it slowly because they have worked themselves up, and others would rather get it over and done with. We can cater to everyone’s preferences but communication is vital. Personally, I always tell people to raise their hand if they need me to stop at any point; we certainly aren’t going to pin you down and force you – if you need a break then we can take a break. We have also seen it all so don’t worry about gagging, there’s no shame!

Finally…
If you have been dreading getting a test or putting it off, I urge you not to. The way things are going, we are probably all going to have to have one at some point in order to regain some normality, whether it be to go on holiday, go to work, return to school etc, especially with the implementation of rapid testing. Like anything medical, it’s never anyone’s favourite activity, but it is necessary and over in less than a minute. With regards to what I’ve gained from this role; I’ve learnt a new skill, I’ve contributed to the pandemic, and I have developed a strange obsession with people’s tonsils.