The University of Lisbon has started a covid-19 testing programme for all its members, employees, lecturers, students, researchers, and other associates. In a single campaign involving all the Faculties of Ulisboa, the coordination is conducted by the Faculty of Medicine (FMUL), in close collaboration with the Rector’s Office, University Stadium, Faculties of Pharmacy and Sciences (FFUL/FCUL), Technical Institute (IST), and the CHULN.
The swabs tests are the responsibility of an external company, and blood samples are taken by year 6 FMUL students, supervised by an internal cardiology doctor.
The Director of the Faculty of Medicine, Fausto J. Pinto, could not fail to be present and give a word of encouragement. He showed up punctually the day the tests started, “to set an example”, as he said.
It is important, however, to reinforce the roles of people directly involved in this important Programme. They are: Professor Melo Cristino (FMUL, who is the scientific coordinator), Professor Mário Ramirez (FMUL), Professor Ruy Ribeiro (FMUL), Professor Maria Mota (FMUL/iMM), Professor João Barreiros (Vice-Rector), Professor João Gonçalves (FFUL), Professor Gabriel Monteiro (IST), as well as Professor Ricardo Dias (FCUL) and Professor José Roquete (University Stadium).
Diagnostic swab tests will be performed in several alternating locations: iMM/FMUL, CHULN, FFUL, FCUL and IST. It should also be stressed that serological tests are carried out at iMM/FMUL, relying on the tireless support of the Students’ Association of the Faculty of Medicine (AEFML).
We spoke to Miguel Henriques, a year 6 IMDM student, a strong element always connected to major changes at the AEFML and the creator of the Association's official website. Miguel volunteered to be part of the group of year 6 students who are taking blood samples for serological tests. We asked him to describe the process and he agreed to share with us what is going on in the life of a student whose path should be a clinical internship almost coming to an end.
"Like all my year 6 colleagues, my clinical internship at the end of the degree was suspended due to the COVID 19 situation. Accordingly, we all met at home taking classes by videoconference. About 2 weeks ago, we received an email from the AEFML asking for year 6 volunteers to collaborate regarding an initiative of our Faculty and the University of Lisbon This initiative was to carry out laboratory tests for University of Lisbon employees and we, year 6 students, would be in charge of collecting blood to be tested. At the time, I thought it would be an interesting initiative to be involved in. We have been at home for so long, trying to contribute, even in the passive way we can, to the measures to contain contact. So when the opportunity arose to be able to actively contribute on the way back to normality, we should grab it. Accordingly, in addition to helping in a screening that would allow people to return to their workplace in a safer way, I would have the opportunity to return to some medical practice, even if it is 'just' taking blood samples. Due to the pandemic, my Internal Medicine internship disappeared completely and, having never had many opportunities to perform venepuncture during the degree, with this project I will be able to complete year 6 more familiar with this medical procedure. So, I signed up as a volunteer. In about 4 days, my colleagues and I communicated our availability and, thanks to the work of the AEFML, it was possible to make an equal distribution of shifts among all volunteers. We also had a clarification session with members of the board of the AEFML and Professor Fausto Pinto. Each of us was allocated four 4-hour shifts, with a morning period, from 9 am to 1 pm and one in the afternoon, from 2 pm to 6 pm. Each team is made up of three year 6 students and a Cardiology intern from HSM to provide support. My first shift was on the first day of the initiative, 13 May. I've had 2 more shifts since then, and everything has gone smoothly. In principle, this project will last for 1 month. The tests are carried out at the Sports Medicine Centre building at the University Stadium of the UL. The routine of a shift consists of arriving at the place and first of all putting on all the protective equipment, namely plastic clogs, plastic suits, mask, shield, cap and gloves (which are changed after each test).
Then we go to our stations: each student has his own station and is responsible for collecting blood, storing the sample and cleaning the station. We always have an internal cardiology doctor from the HSM who helps us both in the logistics and in more complicated blood collection situations. In general, we are autonomous, and most of them run well and at first attempt. What ends up being more tiring during an entire shift is the constant heat due to the protective equipment we have to use. In addition to our blood collection stations, the employees of the University of Lisbon who are going to be tested must first go through a registration area and fill out the informed consent. Later, they are subject to the swab test, which is the responsibility of a specialized external entity, which performs the PCR test in search of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the respiratory tract. This is the diagnostic test whose results are known in about 1 to 2 days. The serological tests carried out on the blood samples that we, year 6 students, collect, check the presence of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies, the results of which will take longer to be known, and the analysis of these tests is included in a study conducted by the Institute of Molecular Medicine. So far it has been a positive experience, which has allowed returning to clinical practice and also seeing some of my colleagues. This is our final year and unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 situation, we will not be able to celebrate our last year with the traditional academic events and ball that mark our farewell. Being able to see again some of my colleagues in the context of this initiative and being able to talk to them between tests, despite being trivial, ends up giving me some “normality” to what would be a year of celebrating an entire degree”.
To all those involved, our sincere congratulations on yet another broad and pioneering initiative and especially to year 6 students, and Miguel in particular, who are always inspired to continue, even in the face of more adverse paths!
Joana Sousa
Editorial Team
