• Charles Sturt University trains medical laboratory professionals and biomedical scientists who play a vital role in diagnosing disease, including COVID-19
• Disease testing would not be possible without medical laboratory professionals
• Nations will need more biomedical scientists in the years ahead

Medical laboratory professionals and microbiologists save lives every day and are especially vital to the fight against the COVID-19 coronavirus and global pandemic.

Few understand this better than the academics in the Charles Sturt University School of Biomedical Sciences who educate the lab professionals and microbiologists who are tackling COVID-19 around Australia and the world.

Senior Lecturer in genetics in the Charles Sturt School of Biomedical Sciences Dr Nigel Urwin said, “The critical role of medical laboratory professionals in diagnosing disease, particularly during COVID-19 pandemic, cannot be understated.

“They are the ones who test the millions of samples around the world to determine whether individuals have been infected with COVID-19 or not.

“They are the ones whose work informs the daily statistics announced by politicians and health officials”.

“It is their results that are noted in hourly and daily news summaries that track the national and global infection rate.”

Dr Urwin, who is based in Port Macquarie, noted that as of Wednesday 1 April, Australia led the world in per capita COVID-19 testing, a factor acknowledged in minimising the impact of the virus on the nation.

Increased testing and re-testing is planned, and on Thursday 23 April NSW alone conducted more than 7,000 tests.

“Testing would not be possible without laboratories and medical laboratory professionals, and we will always need more biomedical scientists in the years ahead,” Dr Urwin said.

“I encourage anyone interested in a dynamic and vital career to considering enrolling in the Bachelor of Medical Science (with specialisation) at Charles Sturt University.

“Those with an existing, relevant qualification should consider postgraduate study and enroll in a Master of Medical Science.”

Find more information about biomedical science courses on the Charles Sturt University website.

In the US this vital scientific role is celebrated by the current Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (19-25 April).