Turpin’s COVID Labs, Inc. manages 26 laboratories in the United States. One laboratory located in Bonita Springs, Florida, began processing COVID-19 tests in early 2020 to address the need for rapid self-administered test kits. The test for COVID-19 uses fluid samples taken by inserting a collection swab inside a person’s nose. Lab analysis could diagnose if the person is infected. The following batches of tests arrived on Wednesday

Case Questions for Discussion 

1.What is the average flowtime if jobs are processed in the order 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6?

2.What is the average flowtime if jobs are processed using the shortest processing time rule? 

3.During the pandemic, many items such as chemical reagents, swabs, channeled reservoirs, pipettes, and molecular testing machines were in short supply. Research about these shortages during the pandemic, and explain how they limit laboratory processing testing capability.

4.During the pandemic, some COVID-19 testing labs had delays of up to two weeks before patients were notified of their test results. What are the risks of lab tests being delayed?

5.If incoming swab samples were identified by hospital intensive care patient, high-risk patient, patient over 65 years old, children 5 to 12 years old, and all others, how might you use this information to process and sequence lab tests?

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Florida County Number of COVID-19 Tests Total Time (in minutes) 1 2 60 131 45 98 3 75 164 456 35 76 30 65 40 87