WHO and the Government of the United States of America through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have donated a mobile laboratory to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to strengthen the identification, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases during the war.
The mobile laboratory, developed in Ukraine by WHO and the Ministry of Health, can be transported anywhere in the country as needs emerge. It is able to carry out more than 3000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests per day, plus thousands of other tests to ascertain the presence of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, mpox and anthrax, among others.
“Laboratory diagnostic capacities have been significantly impacted in Ukraine since the Russian invasion on 24 February. Therefore, it is highly important to control infectious diseases and to help decrease pressure on the health system,” said Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine.
“The fact that this laboratory is mobile allows for health-care specialists to respond in a rapid and agile manner where needs emerge. The donation with USAID marks a major step in this direction, and we thank our partners and the Ministry of Health for their continuous efforts in providing care to their populations,” Dr Habicht added.
Dr Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health of Ukraine, noted, “The war should not be an obstacle to the implementation of modern technologies for effective infection control. Moreover, it is an additional reason to improve the capabilities of the regional centres for disease control and prevention. I am grateful to our permanent partners for their systematic support and donations, especially when it comes to priority areas in wartime – namely the development of the response capacities of the centres for disease control and prevention in the face of possible outbreaks of vaccine-controlled infections.”
United States Ambassador to Ukraine Ms Bridget A. Brink emphasized, “As Russia continues its attacks on civilians and infrastructure, our partnership to strengthen Ukraine’s health system is more important than ever. This laboratory will protect Ukrainians by helping to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks made harder to detect, and more deadly, by the strain Russia’s war has placed on health care in Ukraine.”
The mobile laboratory was developed following a request from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Its functionality was discussed and chosen with the Ministry, the Ukrainian Public Health Center and the Zhytomyr Oblast Centre for Disease Control. It was then designed, produced and purchased by WHO, and funded by USAID Ukraine.
The laboratory is equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system that guarantees biosafe operations, and necessary equipment including biosafety cabinets to allow for diagnostic testing to be conducted safely in accordance with WHO recommendations.
The mobile laboratory can withstand various climatic conditions, including severe winters. A powerful heating unit will provide comfortable conditions in temperatures as low as –20 °C.
The laboratory will be initially located in the Zhytomyr region in northern Ukraine, and WHO will provide trainings on its use for laboratory staff and engineers at the Zhytomyr Oblast Centre for Disease Control.