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 an expanded version for use across South East Asia 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.

In addition, Conservation Medicine and the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit are creating a Risk Assessment Manual, this companion document will include an introduction to Risk Assessments, the steps to follow to conduct a proper risk assessment and guidance to understanding the components of a risk assessment. The manual contains 20 standardised risk assessments for lab activities such as a Risk Assessment for lab work involving COVID-19, MERS, influenza or Viral haemorrhagic fever (including Ebola and CCHF). It also contains Risk Assessments for working with different sample types such as tissue samples and biopsies – including sample collection and Risk Assessments for specific lab types. The manuals will be translated into multiple languages for use across South East Asia.