Medical Laboratory Science students and graduates from the University of the Sunshine Coast are helping the pathology industry meet escalating demand during the latest COVID surge.

USC Associate Professor Dr Lin Fung, who coordinates the Associate Degree in Medical Laboratory Science, said recent graduates and current students were picking up more part-time work processing COVID tests and other support roles in public and private laboratories.

“For the past few weeks, we have been very busy linking labs that require more staff because of the high demand for PCR testing to USC students and graduates seeking valuable industry experience,” Dr Fung said.

“Labs on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane have welcomed the help in recruiting more part-time staff and the students are getting amazing experience and a foot in the door for ongoing employment.”

“At the Pathology Queensland laboratory based at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, for example, we have at least five graduates working to assist the COVID testing effort.”

She said their work included processing and testing samples of bodily fluids and performing other laboratory duties that assisted clinicians in diagnosing disease.

USC’s two-year degree prepares students as entry-level medical laboratory technicians, able to work in Australia’s pathology industry, in hospitals and private laboratories.

It provides credit towards a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, one of USC’s most sought-after degrees in recent QTAC offers.