A case study: An Assessment of biosafety precautions at laboratories in selected government healthcare institutions in Colombo district, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background: Laboratory services are an essential part of the entire health system and biosafety prevents unintentional exposure to pathogens and toxin which, paved the way for Sri Lanka to sign the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on 24 th May, 2000. Objectives:The objective of this study is to assess the biosafety precautions (BSP) in selected government healthcare institutions (SGHIs) in Colombo district, Sri Lanka. Methods:A descriptive cross sectional study was performed in fourteen SGHIs in Colombo district, Sri Lanka. BSP level was assessed through a checklist based on direct observation by using adapted WHO laboratory assessment tool i.e. WHO, 2012. Accordingly, this consisted of developed and validated measurement criterions for BSP and the level of availability of BSP given values were 100% for fully availability, 50% for partial availability and 0% for non-availability.Results: MRI had the highest BSP standard (89.3%) while the standard was poor at DMH (43.2%), IDH (43.8%), JAPR (46.3%), BHH (49.4%) and LRH (49.5%), respectively and the lowest was CSTH (35.6%). Overall BSP level in Colombo district was 52.8%. Conclusions and Recommendations:Six out of fourteen institutions showed very poor levels of BSP. Establishment of a biosafety committee, preparing standard operational practices (SOPs) and introduction of continuous professional development and surveillance systems, were identified as major recommendations for overall improvement.

Evaluation of Biosafety Assessment Among Laboratory Staff in Selected Hospitals and Diagnostic Centers at Jashore District in Bangladesh

“…In addition, a different research was driven in a diagnostic laboratory at Shaqra University expressed that laboratory staff need to increase their knowledge and it is their duty to follow biosafety policy and use personal protective equipment, and biosafety manual (Cruz et al, 2015). Arnold Wedium, who is regarded as the originator of modern bio safety (BS), originally addressed the topic in the biological research laboratory of the US army in Fort Detrick, Maryland (Abhayaratne et al, 2010). The first precise microbiological practice guideline were released by the National Institute of Health in the USA in 1976. WHO established guideline later in 2014, to provide a secure environment in and around every laboratory worldwide (Abhayaratne et al, 2010).…”

“…Arnold Wedium, who is regarded as the originator of modern bio safety (BS), originally addressed the topic in the biological research laboratory of the US army in Fort Detrick, Maryland (Abhayaratne et al, 2010). The first precise microbiological practice guideline were released by the National Institute of Health in the USA in 1976. WHO established guideline later in 2014, to provide a secure environment in and around every laboratory worldwide (Abhayaratne et al, 2010). In Asian region, India is one of the nations with codified biosafety regulations (Chathuvedi, 2006).…”

“…Proper governance with assessment of clinical laboratories for the availability of bio-safety instrument and consent value with standard bio-safety initiatives not only encourage a secure working circumstance but may also have a significant impact on maintaining high-quality laboratory service. Additionally, Sustainable Development goals (SDG) have emphasized the importance of safe environment in hospital and diagnostic center settings (Abhayaratne et al, 2010). The primary objectives of this research is to assess the KPA of laboratory staff on bio-safety in selected healthcare institutions in Jashore district Bangladesh.…”