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Updated: Apr 22, 2026
Particle Agglutination Method for Poliovirus Identification
Published on: April 20, 2011
Progress toward laboratory containment of poliovirus after polio eradication
Christopher Wolff1, Sigrun Roesel2, Galina Lipskaya3
1World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Background:
The first steps (phase 1) toward laboratory containment of poliovirus after eradication are a national survey of biomedical facilities and a global inventory of such facilities retaining wild poliovirus (WPV) infectious and potentially infectious materials.
Methods:
We reviewed published reports on national laboratory surveys and inventories of WPV materials from each of the 3 polio-free World Health Organization (WHO) regions (the European Region, completed in 2006; the Western Pacific Region, completed in 2008; and the Region of the Americas, completed in 2010), as well as reports on progress in polio-free countries of the remaining 3 regions (the African Region, the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and the WHO South-East Asia Region).
Results:
Containment phase 1 activities are complete in 154 of 194 WHO Member States (79%), including all countries and areas of the polio-free regions and most polio-free countries in the remaining 3 regions. A reported 227 209 biomedical facilities were surveyed, with 532 facilities in 45 countries identified as retaining WPV-associated infectious or potentially infectious materials.
Conclusions:
Completion of containment phase 1 global activities is achievable within the time frame set by the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018.
Insights
Laboratory containment of wild poliovirus (WPV) is progressing well. Phase 1 activities, including facility surveys, are nearing completion globally, indicating achievability within the strategic plan timeline.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Control
- Virology
Background:
- Post-eradication laboratory containment of poliovirus requires national and global inventories of facilities holding wild poliovirus (WPV) materials.
- Phase 1 focuses on surveying biomedical facilities and identifying those with infectious or potentially infectious WPV materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the progress of Phase 1 laboratory containment activities for wild poliovirus (WPV) globally.
- To determine the feasibility of completing these activities within the established timeframe.
Main Methods:
- Review of published reports on national laboratory surveys and inventories of WPV materials.
- Analysis of data from polio-free World Health Organization (WHO) regions and progress reports from polio-free countries in other regions.
Main Results:
- Containment Phase 1 activities are complete in 79% (154 of 194) of WHO Member States.
- Over 227,000 facilities were surveyed, identifying 532 facilities in 45 countries retaining WPV materials.
Conclusions:
- Global completion of Phase 1 poliovirus containment activities is achievable within the 2013-2018 strategic plan timeframe.
- The progress indicates successful implementation of essential steps for securing WPV materials post-eradication.
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