Abstract
Laboratories play an essential role in limiting the spread of disease by helping to identify cases and prevent the transmission of viruses. Laboratories, in the early days of the pandemic, had to dramatically increase their testing capacity to meet the surge in demand. Globally, COVID-19 led to a significant shift in how laboratories operate daily. This exposed laboratory workers to higher risks of infection and psychological distress.
This study aims to assess the psychological impact on laboratory employees and the operational disruptions caused by COVID-19 within a laboratory in South Africa. The research employed a quantitative, contextual, and correlational design. An online survey was distributed to all laboratory staff via email. Participants were purposefully chosen because they were involved in the COVID-19 response team, conducting diagnostic tests and research.
Additionally, the scientists at the study site provided genetic sequencing services and research outputs that guided the National Coronavirus Command Council's decisions on how best to respond to emerging variants. In total, 71 responses were collected. The IBM SPSS version 29 software was used to analyse data. Most laboratory employees who were involved in the study were between 30 and 39 years old, and 73% were female. Furthermore, respondents who had worked in the organisation for 5 to 20 years were the most common and were equally represented. The study revealed that respondents experienced shortages of reagents and consumables during the pandemic, which, in turn, affected the laboratory’s turnaround times (TAT). Additionally, a high prevalence of psychological distress was observed among laboratory employees. This study highlighted the psychological distress experienced by laboratory employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasising the need for adequate psychological support during crises.