Diagnosing COVID-19 And Other Infectious Diseases In Remote Locations - SKMC Mobile BSL-3 Laboratory

In response to a significant rise in COVID-19 cases in 2020, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) necessitated a flexible diagnostic testing solution. Sending samples to centralized laboratories became impractical in terms of both time and logistics due to the swiftly evolving landscape of the pandemic. As a result, the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC) collaborated with Germfree Laboratories to create a cutting-edge mobile BSL-3 laboratory, customized to meet the unique requirements of the UAE.

Enclosed within a specially designed truck trailer, Germfree constructed a fully self-sufficient laboratory equipped with its own power source, water supply, and waste management system. The facility featured advanced equipment including PCR machines, sample processing tools, and biocontainment hoods. This enabled rapid deployment to various locations, including hospitals, clinics, and airports. Continue reading to learn more about this custom-built solution and its impact on the UAE's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.