「唯快不破」：新冠疫情下的實驗室民族誌

Abstract

2019年末起，COVID-19全球大流感肆虐全球，迄今已逾7億人感染，700萬人死亡。在COVID-19 爆發初期，為了遏止傳染與公衛政策所需，病毒檢測工具的需求驟增，然PCR檢測量能卻無法滿足。這本論文採取科學技術研究的實驗室研究取徑，描述該實驗室在疫情爆發伊始，一群半路出家、滯留台灣的科學家與儀器，應疫情需求、為了解決檢測量能上的瓶頸，而將液相色譜質譜法（IC-MS）與酵素聯免疫法（ELISA）結合的ELIMSA技術用於 COVID-19檢測的平台開發過程，以及此一技術開發所處之實驗室文化與環境。 循此，我將科學至於其地與其時，關注技術開發過程中的科學實作如何受到彼時的社會與疫情條件所影響。我同時叩問在疫情下，科學家、儀器與其所仰賴的基礎建設是否具備相當量能且能夠迅速到位。本論文中，「快篩核准進入台灣」作為計畫進程上的分割，在計畫前期，此一開發係在在PCR量能未起而「因運而生」的計劃，除強調「唯快不破」的開發節奏，也在短時間內積極動員實驗室大量人力、資金與時間資源的支應；計畫後期，奠基在沒有人體臨床樣本支持，加上疫情愈趨緩和沒有相關檢測開發需求下，開發節奏愈趨緩慢，人力逐漸回歸各自原先計劃中，而本技術之開發也逐步來到了計劃尾聲與結案。 在本論文裡，我藉著此案例，探問著對於此一分析化學實驗室而言，疫情下的科研開發與實作如何可能，而「唯快不破」又為何意。其實也正是因著例外狀態下資金、技術與資源的匯流，仰賴著這些年輕的新手科學家對於在疫情下做科學的熱忱，而使得在此時得以可能；相反地，在計畫尾聲，當例外狀態成了常態之時，原先的技術優勢不再、人員回到原先其他計畫崗位，而開發也屢遭瓶頸之際，開發節奏遂趨於無力。最後，我也藉此一案例討論計畫收尾以後，這些訓練有素的科學家何去何從，由此討論台灣的科研教育困境。

Since the end of 2019, the global COVID-19 pandemic has swept across the world, infecting over 700 million people and resulting in 7 million deaths to date. In the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, to curb transmission and adhere to public health policies, the demand for virus testing tools surged dramatically, yet the available PCR testing capacity fell short. This paper takes a laboratory studies approach in Science and Technology Studies (STS), detailing the laboratory’s response at the onset of the pandemic. A group of scientists, some of whom were relatively new to the field and stranded in Taiwan, worked to address the testing capacity bottleneck by developing a platform for COVID-19 detection using the ELIMSA technique—a combination of Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The paper also delves into the laboratory culture and environment during this period of technological development. In doing so, this study situates science within its time and space, examining how the scientific practices of technology development were influenced by the social and pandemic conditions of the time. It also raises questions about whether scientists, instruments, and the underlying infrastructure were adequately equipped and rapidly responsive in the face of the pandemic. Within this paper, the project’s phases are demarcated by the “approval of at-home COVID tests in Taiwan”. In the initial stages, the project emerged as a response to the lack of PCR testing capacity, emphasizing a “only fast will prevail” development pace. During this time, the project rapidly mobilized significant human resources, funding, and time within the laboratory. In the later stages, lacking support from human clinical samples and with diminishing demand due to the easing pandemic situation in Taiwan, the development pace crumpled, personnel gradually returned to their original roles, and so was the project that gradually moved towards its end. Through this case study, this paper investigates how research and practical scientific development unfolded within an analytical chemistry laboratory amidst the pandemic, while exploring the implications of the “only fast will prevail”. It is precisely due to the convergence of funds, technology, and resources during exceptional circumstances that the enthusiasm of young and novice scientists made this endeavor possible. Conversely, as the state of exception became the norm, the initial technological advantage diminished, personnel returned to their original roles, and developmental progress faced bottlenecks, leading to a dwindling development pace. Lastly, this case study also discusses the paths these well-trained scientists-to-be take after the project, thereby addressing the challenges faced within Taiwan’s scientific research and education.