Detection of COVID-19 virus : laboratory biosafety guidelines in testing SARS-CoV-2

As in 12 February 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) had released the guideline for laboratory biosafety in handling SARS-CoV-2 for diagnostics and testing. The purpose of the guidelines document  is to provide interim guidance biosafety for the medical laboratories that relates to patients' clinical specimens for the case of COVID-19 that initiated in Wuhan, China. 

The guidelines that WHO provided must be followed by worldwide laboratories that doing testing in COVID-19. The key points of the guidelines are:  

Specimen care

• When handling and processing specimen; inc blood for serological testing, laboratory practices and procedures should follow the good microbiological practices and procedures (GMPP).
• All materials transported within and between laboratories should be placed in a secondary container to minimize the potential fo breakage or a spill.

Procedures 

• All laboratory procedures with high concentration of live virus must be conducted based on the risk assessment only by trained and competent personnel in strict observance protocols at all times.
• All technical procedures should be performed in a way that minimizes the generation of aerosol and droplets
• PCR  analysis on clinical specimens from patients who are suspected/confirmed to be infected with the virus SARS-CoV-2 should be performed according practices and procedures described for conventional clinical and microbiology laboratories. 
• Centrifugation of specimens should be performed using sealed centrifuge rotors or sample cups that are leaded and unloaded in a BSC.

Protection

• Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn by all the laboratory personnel while handling these specimens.
• Laboratory workers should wear protective equipment including disposable gloves, solid-front gowns, scrubs suits, head coverings, shoe covers, eye protection.

Disinfection

• An appropriate disinfects with proven a activity against enveloped virusesshould be used for the recommended contact time, at correct dilution and within the expiry date after working solution is prepared.
• COVID-19 virus may be susceptible to disinfectants with proven activity against enveloped viruses; sodium hypochlorite ( bleach) 62-71% ethanol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide, quaternary ammonium compounds and phenolic compounds.

For more information, visit WHO website.

Source: Laboratory biosafety guidance related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Interim guidance, 12 February 2020 (https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331138/WHO-WPE-GIH-2020.1-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y )