WHO Laboratory Biosafety and Risk Assessment Manuals

The Myanmar Laboratory Biosafety Quick Reference Manual was developed by Conservation Medicine and the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit in Bangkok in collaboration with the Myanmar National Health Laboratory, the Department of Medical Services, and the Ministry of Health and Sports in collaboration with WHO Myanmar and WHO SEARO.

The manual covers topics such as Best Practices in The Laboratory, Risks Associated with Laboratory Procedures and Common Pathogens and Diseases Associated with Laboratory Specimens that are essential to facilitate safe work practices and control biological risks.

Among other valuable topics are sections on Personal Protective Equipment, Hand Hygiene, Preparation of Disinfectant, Hazardous Spill Clean Up Procedure, Waste Management and Disposal.

The quick reference manual also included topics which are incredibly important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics include Guidance on Collecting Potentially Infectious Samples for Diagnostic Screening including COVID-19 and Guidance on Sample Packaging and Transportation of Potentially Infectious Samples for Diagnostic Screening including COVID-19. This was a crucial component in the manual as it will serve as guidelines not only for COVID-19 but also for any other future potential infectious Disease X. The manual is currently being translated into Burmese.

Following the success of the Myanmar Laboratory Biosafety Quick Reference Manual, Conservation Medicine and the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit in Bangkok were asked to develop A Guide for the Practical Implementation of the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual Fourth Edition in collaboration with WHO SEARO.

The manual includes new topics such as Risk Assessments, Risks associated with Routine Laboratory Procedures according to Laboratory Types and the Mitigation Strategies, and First Aid in the Laboratory.

Existing sections on Personal Protective Equipment, Hazardous Spill Clean Up Procedure, Waste Management and Disposal and Biological Safety Cabinet Use have all been expanded. These topics are essential in protecting anyone in the laboratory and to ensure the safe disposal of waste.

The manual is a practical guide for the implementation of risk-based principles of biosafety using the principles described in The WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual 4th Edition (LBM4). It provides simple and straightforward descriptions of biosafety-related activities as well as stepwise illustrations on how to perform routine activities such as the preparation of disinfectants, PPE use and spills clean-up. The manual also describes how to best respond in an emergency situation.

This manual should be used as a “how to” bench guide for the implementation of the methods and procedures included in the LBM4. The instructions and procedures provide clear and appropriate instructions to maintain a safe working environment for staff and the community during sample collection, transport, and processing.

This manual is primarily focused on low resource settings; however, it can also be applied in any situation where there may be a knowledge gap in terms of the required steps to safely work with infectious materials or clinical specimens. By following the procedures described and illustrated in this manual, laboratory staff will have a clear and unequivocal methodology for performing activities in the laboratory to comply with biosafety and biocontainment requirements.