Specific features of microbiological laboratory construction

Despite growing knowledge of biosafety and biosecurity, work with infectious microorganisms remains a source of infection for laboratory staff. Laboratory specialists can minimise the risks associated with handling infectious agents by applying appropriate biosafety and biosecurity principles and rules.

Biosecurity is the protection, control and accountability of valuable biological materials within laboratories (pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms, toxins, vaccine strains, etc.). The coronavirus situation shows that newly emerging infections pose an enormous threat to public health, biosafety and even global security. Accordingly, in 2020 the World Health Organization issued interim guidance, “Laboratory biosafety guidance related to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)”, to be followed when testing clinical specimens from patients with COVID-19. Biosafety levels for laboratories have been defined (international classification): BSL-2 for work that does not involve virus propagation and BSL-3 for work that does.

By 2013, more than 4,000 microbiological laboratories, regardless of departmental affiliation, working with pathogens of hazard groups I–IV had been registered in Ukraine. In 2021, Ukraine has no complete register of microbiological laboratories and no data on whether laboratories under reconstruction or already reconstructed are authorised to operate or comply with anti-epidemic procedures, which is a cause for some concern. Laboratory testing must be carried out with particular care, so laboratory layout and workflow play an important role.

When designing new or reconstructed buildings, or reconfiguring the premises of microbiological laboratories, our company always takes into account the principles of biosafety and biosecurity and the requirements of current regulations (DSP 9.9.5.035-99 “Safety of Work with Microorganisms of Pathogenicity Groups I–II”, DSP 9.9.5-080-2002 “Rules for the Arrangement and Safety of Work in Microbiological Laboratories (Departments, Units)”, DSanPiN 9.9.5-153-2008 “Organisation of Laboratories Testing Material Containing Biological Pathogenic Agents by Molecular Genetic Methods”), which govern the processes taking place during laboratory testing, as well as space planning, building services and workstation layout.

Good biosafety practice was taken into account by the Keentegro team in the design and subsequent construction of the new four-storey BSL-2 laboratory building for the Odesa Branch of the State Research Institute for Laboratory Diagnostics and Veterinary Sanitary Expertise in Khlibodarske, and in the reconfiguration of premises for a PCR laboratory for the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Laboratory of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection.