Network Experiences from a Cross-Sector Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory Collaboration: A Swedish Forum for Biopreparedness Diagnostics

Abstract

The Swedish Forum for Biopreparedness Diagnostics (FBD) is a network that fosters collaboration among the 4 agencies with responsibility for the laboratory diagnostics of high-consequence pathogens, covering animal health and feed safety, food safety, public health and biodefense, and security. The aim of the network is to strengthen capabilities and capacities for diagnostics at the national biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) laboratories to improve Sweden's biopreparedness, in line with recommendations from the EU and WHO. Since forming in 2007, the FBD network has contributed to the harmonization of diagnostic methods, equipment, quality assurance protocols, and biosafety practices among the national BSL-3 laboratories. Lessons learned from the network include: (1) conducting joint projects with activities such as method development and validation, ring trials, exercises, and audits has helped to build trust and improve communication among participating agencies; (2) rotating the presidency of the network steering committee has fostered trust and commitment from all agencies involved; and (3) planning for the implementation of project outcomes is important to maintain gained competencies in the agencies over time. Contacts have now been established with national agencies of the other Nordic countries, with an aim to expanding the collaboration, broadening the network, finding synergies in new areas, strengthening the ability to share resources, and consolidating long-term financing in the context of harmonized European biopreparedness.

Civil–Military Collaboration to Facilitate Rapid Deployment of a Mobile Laboratory in Early Response to COVID-19: A High-Readiness Exercise

“…PHAS supplied reagents and controls on the same day that the laboratory arrived at the deployment destination, facilitated by the existing FBD network for microbiological diagnostic preparedness described earlier. 17 Second, mobile laboratories need to be developed and thoroughly tested for specific purposes before outbreaks. They may be configured in varying fashions, from the armored, self-contained, and container-based model described in this article, to carriable box-based solutions such as the EU mobile laboratory.…”

“…In 2007, government agencies responsible for laboratory diagnostics of high-consequence pathogens formed the Swedish Forum for Biopreparedness Diagnostics (FBD) network. 17 The aim of the network is to strengthen capabilities and capacities for diagnostics at the national biosafety level-3 laboratories to improve Sweden's biopreparedness, in line with recommendations from the European Union and World Health Organization. The Swedish Armed Forces (Armed Forces CBRN Defence Centre and field hospital companies) and the Swedish Police Authority have been formal members of the FBD network since 2017, as the collaboration now includes various biopreparedness projects aiming to increase civil-military collaboration as a means to strengthen total national defense.…”

Addressing biohazards to food security in primary production

“…It can become extremely costly if the identification of a pathogen is delayed or fails due to a lack of training (Dorea et al, 2017;Hammond et al, 2016;Wright et al, 2016). Veterinarians, plant pathologists, and other agricultural experts often have limited experience in identification and management of exotic diseases because they are seldom found Thelaus et al, 2017). Adequate monitoring and surveillance systems are needed so that a pathogen does not go undetected, and disease outbreaks are managed in time.…”

“…This was useful in Sweden during naturally occurring outbreaks of anthrax in 2008 and 2011 and during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-2021 (Lindberg & Melin, 2016;SVA, 2021). Other important areas for enhancing bio-preparedness in national laboratories include ring trials, maintaining competence, sample transport and delivery, inter-agency communication and sharing of data (Thelaus et al, 2017).…”

Biosafety in laboratories: History, Application and Expected community outcomes

“…International conferences from various institutions still exist which concentrate on sharing of best practices and harmonization of biosafety guidelines at the regional, national and global scale. Biosafety has been an emerging concern for occupational health (Thelaus et al, 2017). Educational intervention on biosafety is highly essential so that staff can be fully equipped with the correct knowledge of biosafety principles and can be able to demonstrate or enhance proper biosafety skills for all healthcare workers (Ritterson and Casagrande, 2017).…”