Development of mobile laboratory for viral hemorrhagic fever detection in Africa

Citation

Weidmann M, Faye O, Faye O, Abd El Wahed A, Patel P, Batejat C, Manugerra JC, Adjami A, Niedrig M, Hufert FT & Sall AA (2018) Development of mobile laboratory for viral hemorrhagic fever detection in Africa. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 218 (10), pp. 1622-1630. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiy362

Abstract
Background In order to enable local response to viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks a mobile laboratory transportable on commercial flights was developed. Methodology The development progressed from use of mobile real time RT-PCR to mobile Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RT-RPA). The various stages of the mobile laboratory development are described. Results A brief overview of its deployments, which culminated in the first on site detection of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in March 2014 and a successful use in a campaign to roll back EVD cases in Conakry in the West-Africa Ebola virus outbreak are described. Conclusion The developed mobile laboratory successfully enabled local teams to perform rapid viral haemorrhagic fever disgnostics.

Keywords
Viral haemorragic fever virus; Recombinase polymerase amplification; SmartCycler; Mobile laboratory; Ebola virus disease; point of care; laboratory suitcase

Journal
Journal of Infectious Diseases: Volume 218, Issue 10