Baylor School faculty members testing COVID-19 at school's lab

Baylor School faculty members testing COVID-19 at school's lab

It's not just another day at the office for two baylor school faculty members, but because of coronavirus, it is now.

My co-anchor dorothy sherman is operating remotely this week.

She explains how the pair is spending their own time playing a significant role in the battle against the spread of covid- 19.

Research scientists and baylor school faculty members dawn richards and elizabeth forrester knew they had the ability, technology and expertise at baylor to test for covid-19.

So, they gave it a try.

Baylor research scientist elizabeth forrester: "once we had the protocol worked out and it became obvious that we had a resource that we wanted to make available to the community is when we began talks with the hamilton county health department."

The two-woman team are now testing swabs for covid-19 at the boarding school's science lab.

It's a process they say requires advanced molecular biology equipment.

The stuff you wouldn't normally find in a high school lab.

But, since they have it at baylor, they are testing swabs they get from local hospitals and the health department and producing rapid results.

Baylor research scientist elizabeth forrester: "right now we are not at capacity for testing and so we turn them around same day."

Between the both of them, they have the ability to test between 50 to 60 swabs daily.

But their capabilities are growing with two scientists on standby and more equipment on the way.

Baylor research scientist elizabeth forrester: "once we get four phds and and all of the equipment.

We think we could do, you know, 300 plus a day."

Baylor research scientist dawn richards: "even though it's a really hard time for people, it's really been uplifting to get the kind of support that we have in our community and people are offering all sorts of help and assistance it's really wonderful to see how people want to be a part of the solution."

Dorothy sherman / http: of course, the team's load grows based on the tests they get.

The swabbing part doesn't happen at the school.

And the scientists say as long as they're able to turn around quick results, they'll continue to fill the need in the community.