Providing On-Site Laboratory and Biosafety Just-In-Time Training Inside a Box-Based Laboratory during the West Africa Ebola Outbreak: Supporting Better Preparedness for Future Health Emergencies

Mostafa Bentahir, Mamadou Diouldé Barry, Kekoura Koulemou and Jean-Luc Gala ()
Additional contact information
Mostafa Bentahir: Centre for Applied Molecular Technologies (CTMA), Institute of Clinical and Experimental Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 54-55, B1.54.01, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
Mamadou Diouldé Barry: Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques Virales de Guinée, N’Zérékoré P.O. Box 50, Guinea
Kekoura Koulemou: Laboratory of the Prefectural Hospital of Gueckedou, Gueckedou P.O. Box 82, Guinea
Jean-Luc Gala: Centre for Applied Molecular Technologies (CTMA), Institute of Clinical and Experimental Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 54-55, B1.54.01, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-13

Abstract: The Biological Light Fieldable Laboratory for Emergencies (B-LiFE) is a box-based modular laboratory with the capacity to quickly deploy on-site in cases of uncontrolled spread of infectious disease. During the 2014–2015 West Africa Ebola outbreak, this tent laboratory provided diagnostic support to the N’Zerekore Ebola Treatment Center (ETC), Guinea, for three months. One of the objectives of B-LiFE deployment was to contribute, as much as possible, to national capacity building by training local scientists. Two Guinean biologists were selected according to their basic biological knowledge and laboratory skills among 50 candidate trainees, and were integrated into the team through “just-in-time training” (JiTT), which helped the biologists acquire knowledge and laboratory skills beyond their expertise. The JiTT program was conducted according to standard laboratory procedures, in line with international biosafety guidelines adapted to field conditions. Supervised acquisition of field-laboratory practices mainly focused on biochemical testing and Ebola viral load quantification using routine PCR-based detection, including the Biofire FilmArray ® system (BFA), a novel, as yet non-validated, automated assay for diagnostic testing of Ebola virus disease at the time of B-LiFE deployment. During the JiTT, the two biologists were closely involved in all laboratory activities, including BFA validation and biosafety procedures. Meanwhile, this successful JiTT enhanced the B-LiFE in-field operational capacity and contributed to national capacity building. A post-training evaluation and contacts were organised to assess the evolution and technical skills gained by the two researchers during the B-LiFE mission. At the end of the B-LiFE mission, both biologists were enrolled in follow-on programmes to curb the epidemic spreading in Africa. These results demonstrate that during infectious disease outbreaks or major crises, the JiTT approach can rapidly expand access to critical diagnostic testing and train local staff to do so.

Keywords: ebola viral disease; just-in-time-training; BioFire FilmArray ® BioThreat-E; mobile laboratory tent; molecular diagnosis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/18/11566/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/18/11566/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:18:p:11566-:d:914583

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().