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Biorisk assessment for infrastructure & biosafety requirements for the laboratories providing coronavirus
Devendra T Mourya1, Gajanan Sapkal2, Pragya D Yadav3
1ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Insights
This review outlines essential requirements for diagnostic laboratories to test for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It addresses the critical need for expanded lab capacity and biosafety measures to manage severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) effectively.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Laboratory Science
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a global pandemic affecting over 203 countries.
- The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global public health emergency due to its rapid spread, high transmissibility, and severe health outcomes.
- Effective containment strategies rely on rapid case detection, isolation, and enhanced laboratory diagnostic capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the minimum requirements for diagnostic laboratories undertaking COVID-19 testing.
- To highlight the associated biorisk to laboratory personnel and the community.
- To address the growing demand for diagnostic services amidst limited existing laboratory capacity.
Main Methods:
- Review of current guidelines and best practices for handling SARS-CoV-2.
- Assessment of biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) requirements for diagnostic testing.
- Analysis of laboratory capacity needs for pandemic response.
Main Results:
- Diagnostic laboratories require specific infrastructure and adherence to standard precautions for handling SARS-CoV-2.
- Expansion of laboratory capabilities is crucial to meet the escalating demand for COVID-19 testing.
- Understanding and mitigating biorisk is paramount for safe diagnostic operations.
Conclusions:
- Establishing minimum requirements for COVID-19 diagnostic laboratories is essential for accurate and safe testing.
- Enhanced laboratory capacity and strict biosafety protocols are critical for controlling the pandemic.
- Addressing knowledge gaps in epidemiology and pathogenesis will further aid in managing SARS-CoV-2.
Abstract:
Novel coronavirus infection [coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)] has spread to more than 203 countries of various regions including Africa, America, Europe, South East Asia and Western Pacific. The WHO had declared COVID-19 as the global public health emergency and subsequently as pandemic because of its worldwide spread. It is now one of the top-priority pathogens to be dealt with, because of high transmissibility, severe illness and associated mortality, wide geographical spread, lack of control measures with knowledge gaps in veterinary and human epidemiology, immunity and pathogenesis. The quick detection of cases and isolating them has become critical to contain it. To meet the increasing demand of the diagnostic services, it is necessary to enhance and expand laboratory capabilities since existing laboratories cannot meet the emerging demand. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a BSL-2 (Biosafety Level 2) agent and needs to be handled in biosafety cabinet using standard precautions. This review highlights minimum requirements for the diagnostic laboratories opting testing of material for the diagnosis of COVID-19 and associated biorisk to the individuals and to the community.
