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. 2017 May 15;11(5):e0005622.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005622. eCollection 2017 May.

Rapid deployment of a mobile biosafety level-3 laboratory in Sierra Leone during the 2014 Ebola virus epidemic

Yi Zhang  1 , Yan Gong  2 , Chengyu Wang  1 , Wensen Liu  1 , Zhongyi Wang  1 , Zhiping Xia  1 , Zhaoyang Bu  1 , Huijun Lu  1 , Yang Sun  1 , Xiaoguang Zhang  3 , Yuxi Cao  3 , Fan Yang  4 , Haoxiang Su  4 , Yi Hu  5 , Yongqiang Deng  5 , Bo Zhou  1 , Zongzheng Zhao  1 , Yingying Fu  1 , David Kargbo  6 , Foday Dafae  6 , Brima Kargbo  6 , Alex Kanu  7 , Linna Liu  1 , Jun Qian  1 , Zhendong Guo  1
Affiliations

Rapid deployment of a mobile biosafety level-3 laboratory in Sierra Leone during the 2014 Ebola virus epidemic

Yi Zhang et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Ebola virus emerged in West Africa in December 2013. The high population mobility and poor public health infrastructure in this region led to the development of the largest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak to date.

Methodology/principal findings: On September 26, 2014, China dispatched a Mobile Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory (MBSL-3 Lab) and a well-trained diagnostic team to Sierra Leone to assist in EVD diagnosis using quantitative real-time PCR, which allowed the diagnosis of suspected EVD cases in less than 4 hours from the time of sample receiving. This laboratory was composed of three container vehicles equipped with advanced ventilation system, communication system, electricity and gas supply system. We strictly applied multiple safety precautions to reduce exposure risks. Personnel, materials, water and air flow management were the key elements of the biosafety measures in the MBSL-3 Lab. Air samples were regularly collected from the MBSL-3 Lab, but no evidence of Ebola virus infectious aerosols was detected. Potentially contaminated objects were also tested by collecting swabs. On one occasion, a pipette tested positive for EVD. A total of 1,635 suspected EVD cases (824 positive [50.4%]) were tested from September 28 to November 11, 2014, and no member of the diagnostic team was infected with Ebola virus or other pathogens, including Lassa fever. The specimens tested included blood (69.2%) and oral swabs (30.8%) with positivity rates of 54.2% and 41.9%, respectively. The China mobile laboratory was thus instrumental in the EVD outbreak response by providing timely and reliable diagnostics.

Conclusions/significance: The MBSL-3 Lab significantly contributed to establishing a suitable laboratory response capacity during the emergence of EVD in Sierra Leone.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Worksite layout for the China mobile laboratory diagnostic team.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Layout of the mobile biosafety level-3 laboratory.
The main and auxiliary containers were connected by an airtight soft connection and together formed a complete biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) lab. The instruments represented by letters were listed in S1 Table.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Mobile biosafety level-3 laboratory at its mission in Sierra Leone.
(A) Exterior of the mobile biosafety level-3 laboratory. (B) View to the biosafety level-3 laboratory. Two different perspectives (B1 and B2) were shown. (C) View to the auxiliary container. C1) Pass box (left) and expanded-metal door (middle). C2) Monitoring unit and table for experimental preparation. C3) Shower cubicle. C4) Waste treatment room. (D) View to the command container. D1) Room for meeting or for watching monitoring videos. D2) “King View” industry control software. D3) Real-time surveillance video.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Schematic diagram of the “Four Flows”.
Personnel, materials, water and air flow management were the key elements of biosafety measures in the MBSL-3 Lab.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Diagnostic algorithm for laboratory testing.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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