1. Jess de Vries Immunology, RBWH CareerHistory1
Position:Scientist Department: Immunology,RBWH
Summary:
I am currentlyemployedbyQueenslandHealthasa permenantfull time medical scientistwithinthe
Immunobiology/AutoimmuneandQueenslandHIV reference laboratoryatRoyal Brisbane andWomensHospital,
Herston.I have beenfullytrainedwithproven ability andexperience inall areasof Immunobiologyandthe HIV
Reference Laboratory including;FlowCytometry,ImmunefunctionandHIV Reference laboratory.Ihave a profound
curiosityinthe immune system, Haematological malignancies,autoimmunedisordersanddifferentviral pathogens,
especiallyHIV,inwhichIperformedatalkon HIV elite controllers.Due tothis,Idevelopedakeeninterestin both
immunologyandimmunohaematology developed especiallypertainingtoFlow Cytometry.
The skillsandknowledgeIhave gainedduringmystudyhave beenconsistentlyreinforced throughmyextensive
experience of workinginQueensland HealthPathologylaboratories. Iregularly participate inthe Emergencyoncall
rosterfor FlowCytometryand am currentlybeingtrainedinaspectsof Autoimmune.
I thrive onlearningandregularly make use of the professional developmentresourcesfromQueenslandHealth
includingthe CliniciansKnowledge network,manuals,grandrounds,local textbooksandthe libraryaswell asthe
vast knowledgeof the staff. Iam constantlyparticipatingincontinuingeducationprogramsinordertofurthermy
knowledge andnetworking. Thisincludesattendanceatinternal andexternal sessionsandtoimpartknowledge
gainedtootherstaff members.Includingbutnotlimitedto; presentingatDivisional ScientificMeetings,attending
workshopssuchas the AustraliasianCytometrySociety’sworkshop‘PolychromaticCytometryRoadshow’and
attendingconfrencessuchas the 2015 WorldSTI and HIV Congressjointwiththe AustralasianHIV andAIDS
Conference.
Duringmy time inImmunology, Ihave beendirectlyinvolvedwiththe testingof the HIV Alere Pointof Care
comparative studybetweenthe oldgeneration(DetermineHIV Combo) andnew generation(Alere HIV Combo).The
testingthatwas involvedinthiswasparallel testingandcomparisonandanalysis. Ipresentedthesefindingsatthe
AustralasianSocietyforHIV,Viral HepatitisandSexualHealthMedicine Conference (ASHM) 2016.
While maintainingahighlevel of workethics,Iamconstantlylookingfornew projectsto workonwhentime
prevails.Due tothis,Ialso assistedinthe AustralianMolecularEpidemiologyNetwork-HIV(AMEN-HIV) project.This
isa national networkof hospitalsandreference laboratoriesthatgatherdatainorder to studyHIV subtype diversity
inAustralia.The studyaimsto involve phylogeneticanalysescombinedwithkeyriskfactorsandclinical datawhichis
gatheredthroughroutine testingproceduresatparticipatingsitesAustralia-wide,forthe state of Queensland.
I understandthe requirementsof amodernday scientistandhave demonstrated manyyearsof experienceasa
continuousshiftworkerinalaboratory,workingindependently. Throughmyexperience Iamconfidentof beingable
to performall requireddutiestoa highstandardregardlessof the shifthoursorstaffing.Ihave, at all times,
maintainedmyprofessionalismandhave done mybesttoresolve problemsto the client’ssatisfactionwhilst
ensuringpoliciesandproceduresof the Laboratoryare followed. Ifindthe ideationof experiencinganImmunology
laboratoryat an international level thrilling.Iamkeentogainadditional experience inEnglandandlearnthe vast
differencesthatmayarise inmethods,protocols,automationandworkload.
I believemyexperienceswill enableme toquicklyintegrate intoanylaboratoryteam;howeverIam acutelyaware
that there will be some unfamiliaraspects.Iam confidentthatmyabilitytolearnquicklywill allow me tobridge
those gapsswiftlysoI can become anintegral teammemberasfastas possible.
I am punctual,friendlyandtrustworthy. Ibelieve Ihave greatpeople skillsandIenjoythe abilitytoworkco-
operativelyinateam. I take pride inmywork,have a highstandardof work ethicsandcan be relieduponto
continuallystrivetoenhance myabilitybothindividuallyandasa teammember.Itake pride inmy attentionto
detail andunderstandthe importance of beingaccurate;Istrive toprepare eachtestwithinthe laboratoryas
preciselyandaccuratelyaspossible. Ihave listedthe maindutiesandresponsibilitiesindotpointbelow.

2. Jess de Vries Immunology, RBWH CareerHistory1
Duties/Skills:
The Immunologydepartmentcomprisesof;Immunobiology, QLDHIV Reference LaboratoryandAutoimmune
Immunobiology:
 ReceivingandBookingin haematological andnon-haematological specimensforFLOWcytometry,Lymphocyte
Subsets,HIV-1viral loads,HIV westernblots, ELISA TetanusAntibodies,Lymphocyte functiontestsandDNA ploidys
STUDIES
 ReceivingdeliveriesincludingreagentsandstoreswhilecomplyingwithNPAACguidelines,AS 4633 (ISO15189) with
documentationrequirements
 Verificationof reagentdeliveriesinaccordance tothe NPAACguidelines,AS4633 (ISO15189) prior to use
 SpecimenStorage
 To verify,titre andaliquot monoclonal antibodiesandcocktailstoNATA 15189 Standards
 Orderingandmaintainingstores suppliessuchas monoclonal antibodies,lyse,lymphocytesubsetreagentsand
variouskitsincluding intracytoplasmicstainingandDNA analysis.
 PreparingpatientsamplesforLymphocyte subsetseithermanually (postlysis) orviathe BD Facs Sample Prep
Assistant.Followedbyrunningthe preparedspecimensonthe BD FacsCantoII.
 Use of the BD Facs Sample prepincludingthe start-up,shutdownandmaintenance procedures.
 Usingscientificjudgementtodeterminethe appropriate monoclonal antibody panel requiredforFLOWcytometry
 PreparingpatientsamplesforFLOWCytometry.Thisincludesattainingawhite cell count,Lysingthe primarysample
inorder to remove the redbloodcells,centrifugationinordertoseparate the white bloodcellsandmakinguptoan
appropriate final volume.Thissampleisthenstainedandincubatedwiththe appropriate monoclonalantibodiesfor
FlowcytometryviaBD FacsCantoII.
 ManuallyperformingandpreparingCH50complementfixationassay(Thisassaymeasuresthe 50% Haemolytic
Complementactivityof serum),analysingthe plate onthe plate readerandreportingthe results.
 PerformingandreportingNeutrophil AdhesionMarkertest
 Cell culture andaseptictechnique. Preparing,performing,analysingandreportingLymphocyte functiontestswith
respectto mitogensandvariousantigens.Thisincludesthe settingupimmune functionplates, pulsingplatesusing
3H-Thymidine, harvestingthe cellsontoglassfibre filters andcountingthemonBeckmannbeta-counter.
 Preparing,performing, analysingandreportingDNA ploidys
 Assessmentof neutrophilrespiratoryburstfunctionwhichinvolves; Preparing,performingandreportingNeutrophil
Oxidative Bursttests.
 PerformingTetanusantibodyELISA assay.Followedbythe analysisandreportingof results
 Use of Plate washer(BIO-RADPW-40) includingstartup,shut-downandmaintenance procedures
 Accurate and precise pipettingthroughoutall procedures
 Densitygradientmethodswhichincludesthe use of Ficoll-paque toisolatelymphocytesfromwhole blood
 The use of FacsCantoIIFlow analysersincludingstart upandshut downprocedures, Qualitycontrol procedures,
maintenance andreagentrefill procedures.
 Trainedto performadvancedmaintenance forthe Flow cytometer includingbutnotlimitedto; settingup
compensation/establishingbaseline compensationparameters, voltagesetup,CSTbeadsetup, CS&T Baseline
performance:resettingCS&TTargetvalues,performance tracking,longcleans,Replacementof BALseal for
troubleshootingtube pressurisationerrors,Resolvingfluidicsissues
 TroubleshootingFacsCantoIIproblemsincluding blockagesinthe inletportof the flow cell, spectral overlap,
compensationissues,drifts/trendsindata,laserpowerorcurrenttoohighetc.
 Back up of FLOW data; weeklyandmonthly
 Completionandmonitoringof laboratorymaintenance procedures andanalysers
 Analysisof FLOWreportsviaKaluza analysissoftware includinganalysingdifficultminimumresidual diseases(MRD)
for bothB-ALL’sand T-ALL’sand general acute leukaemias,lymphomasandotherhaematological malignancies.
 Performingthe SecondScientistcheckonFLOWreports
 Internal andexternal qualityassurance programs(receiving,registering,performingtestsandreportingfinalresults;
UKNEQAS,RCPA,NRL,FlowAnalysiscompetence programs).Thisincludescomplex MRDflow reportinganalysisfor
UKNEQASwithsuccessful accreditation.
 Creating,Maintainingand reviewinglaboratoryprotocols, procedures andworksheets
 Maintainingandtroubleshootingall Immunobiologyincomplete listsincludingexternal sendawaytests.

3. Jess de Vries Immunology, RBWH CareerHistory1
 Healthand safetyrepresentative forImmunobiologywhichincludesattendingmonthlysafetymeetingstodiscuss
and reviewincidentsthathave occurredwithinthe laboratory
 Participatingin In-House Control managementandmonitoringsystemforassaysperformedinImmunobiologyin
accordance withISO15189
 Participate in the variable and routine laboratory shifts, including weekday, evenings and weekends according to
displayed rosters.
 Participate in emergency on-call and after-hours roster for Flow cytometry.
 Solve minor problems in the computer system Auslab requiring special corrections access or to advise the Auslab
Management of more major problems
 Help to evaluate and implement new methods under the supervision of a more senior person (i.e. Supervising
scientist or Senior scientists).
HIV Reference Laboratory:
 PerformingHIV-1Viral loadtestingusingthe Abbottm2000 Real time system(Real Time PCR) including
maintenance procedures,transferandvalidationof resultsinordertomonitorQueenslandHIV patients.
 InterpretingHIV ArchitectScreeningresults,andHIV ArchitectQCmonitoring
 Ensuringthat a HIV Screenhas beenperformedbefore performingHIV-1viral loads,HIV-1westernblotsandHIV p24
assay.
 Performingthe HIV-1westernblot onthe AutoblotSystem20,usingan MP Diagnosticskitwhichiscurrently the
goldstandardconfirmatorytestforHIV-1 infection inAustralia.
 Interpretationof westernblotresultsbyanalysingthe westernblotstripsproduced.Thisisdone byreadingand
recordingthe particularglycoproteinsandproteinspresentanddeterminingwhetherthe presentingpatient’sserum
isnon-reactive,indeterminate orreactive.
 Usingscientificjudgementtodeterminewhenthe P24antigen ELISA supplementarytestshouldbe performedon
patientsinregardsto clinical history,HIV screeningassayresultsandthe analyserthatperformedthe assays
sensitivityandspecificity.
 Troubleshootingspuriousresultsforwesternblot,P24 antigenandP24 antigenNeutralisationassays.
 Performingthe P24antigensupplementaryassay byELISA usingBioradkits.Thisisused inorder to detectthe P24
antigeninpatientsthathave an earlystage initial infectionwithHIV-1inwhichthe HIV westernblotmaynot
produce reactive results.Thishelpstominimise the window of detectionforthe HIV virus.
 AnalysingP24antigen resultsviathe inputof the ELISA plate readerdata intocomplex algorithmsonanexcel
worksheet.
 ConsultingwithImmunopathologistsregardingHIV results,recollectionsandpotential sendawaytestsi.e.HIV-2
confirmation.
 Performingthe SecondScientistcheck(transcription,results) onHIV-1reportsandaddingto the validationlistfor
the Immunopathologist
 SendingawayspecialisedHIV teststoexternal laboratoriessuchas HIV Proviral DNA assay, HIV-1Tropism,HIV-2
confirmatorystudies,HIV-2viral loadmonitoring,HIV-1integraseresistance assay,HIV-1genotypicresistance assay
for unusual subtypes
 Maintainingandtroubleshootingall HIV incomplete listsincludingexternal sendaways
 Storage of HIV specimens
 Maintenance of all HIV equipment(incubators,Platewash,AutoblotSystem20,Abbottm2000 Real time systemetc)
includingfillingoutthe appropriate maintenance records consistently.
 ProcessingHIV QAP (NRL,RCPA) samplesfromstarttofinishincludingdataentry,performingthe assayandthe
reportingof results.
Autoimmune:
 Receiving,sortingandstoringpatientsamples.The storage of samplesincludesaliquotinginto the appropriate tubes
and storingaccordingto the locationnumber.
 Storage of specimensintoracksusingAUSLAB
 Performingmanual ELISAs withaccuracyand precision
 PerformingAutomatedELISA’s (Triturus) whichperformsavarietyof differentassays.
 Traininginthisarea isongoing.