• BSL-3 laboratories are used to study infectious agents or toxins that may be transmitted through the air.
• Researchers perform all experiments in a biosafety cabinet. BSL-3 laboratories are designed to be easily decontaminated.
Image: OZONE
The Ministry of Health is working on upgrading the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory.
The exercise which will be done in collaboration with other development partners seeks to ensure the lab meets the World Health Organization (WHO) biosafety standards.
This is after a task force overseeing the renovation recommended that the lab be restored to meet WHO Biosafety Level Three Laboratory (BSL-3).
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sets Biological Safety Levels (BSL) for labs, ranging from 1 to 4.
BSL-3 laboratories are used to study infectious agents or toxins that may be transmitted through the air and cause potentially lethal infections.
Researchers perform all experiments in a biosafety cabinet. BSL-3 laboratories are designed to be easily decontaminated.
“This project aims to transform the facility into a state-of-the-art Biosafety Level three Laboratory (BSL-3), ensuring top-tier safety standards,” PS Public Health Mary Muthoni said.
“The BSL-3 will be a high-security containment facility for handling virological and TB multidrug/extremely resistant organisms."
The lab which is located at the Kenyatta National Hospital carries out evidence-driven population-based surveillance to determine TB Prevalence in the country.
It also coordinates routine laboratory-based TB Surveillance using testing data including rifampicin resistance by Genexpert and carries out technology verification and/or validation of new TB testing technologies.
The upgrade will include the structures, electrical and mechanical enhancements in line with technical and regulatory standards.
Muthoni said the ministry will expedite the renovation process which also aims to enhance staff safety and improve healthcare quality for Kenyans.
The WHO warns that due to emerging and dangerous pathogens and organisms, a safe laboratory environment such as a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory is required to conduct some diagnostic procedures.
The laboratory must be designed to ensure that the staff and surrounding area are protected from the agents handled within and must be able to be run in a sustainable fashion.
“The presence of a BSL-3 laboratory in a country, whether human or animal, is a valuable resource as it provides diagnostic capacity during outbreaks and in between outbreaks,” WHO says.
The BSL-3 laboratories minimise the risk of infection to individuals, the community and the environment.