Mobile level of biological security 3 (MBSL-3). Photo: PIB
The Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR) is in the process of contributing to the laboratory capacity of mobile BSL-3 (MBSL-3) to increase the ability of the outbreak of outbreak in India and strengthen public health, especially in distant and inaccessible areas. The country currently has two of these innovative and fully indigenous mobile laboratory devices functional in Pune and Gorakhpur.
“MBSL-3 was successfully deployed and operated in response to the outbreak of Nipah virus in Kozhikode in Kerala in September 2023 and again in the Malappurama districts of Kerala in July 2024. Investigations of the outbreak and response to emergencies in the field of public health in India, ”said a higher ICMR official.
This first of its kind of the BSL-3 laboratory, known as Rambaan, is an essential part of the Indian plan for the “advanced widespread net” and the combination of MBSL-3 with a well-trained diagnostic team will benefit from elaborating drained diseases in the country.
In its issue issued on Wednesday, ICMR stated that these units were part of the initiative for diagnostic surge capacity in laboratory services on the spot during the outbreak of known and unknown high -risk pathogens. The MBSL-3 laboratory is deployed in the field and has been developed in cooperation with the industrial company Klezenaids Contanication Controls Private Limited, Mumbai, at the Ministry of Health Union Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission.
The MBSL-3 is built on the Bharat Benz chassis, complaints about BS VI standards, designed to work at extreme temperatures and altitudes, and bears a maximum load of 17 tonnes. It is classified as a Mobile Laboratory of Fast Response IV in Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network Classification.
The laboratory is designed to maintain the environment of negative air pressure and is equipped with an advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) using HEPA filters. It is also equipped with double doors of autoclave and decontamination of biological liquid waste water (pale) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for biological waste management. MBSL-3 was validated by the ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune in 2022-2023, including on-site and field verification.
The MBSL-3 Laboratory is divided into four zones-zones 1 (a room for a driver change and external change); Zone-2 (shower room and internal changes); Zone-3 (main laboratory); and zone-4 (area of performance and decontamination of material), said ICMR.
Key installations in these zones include biological safety cabinets, intelligent programmable system of logic controllers, dynamic passage box and shower system input exterior with biometric control. The laboratory power can be made of direct electrical supply or diesel generator, with a continuous power supply and gasoline generators for backup.
Communication in the laboratory is facilitated by walking and real -time watching through CCTV. For the processing and processing of samples, including the use of personal protective equipment (blankets, double gloves, etc.), strict biological safety protocols, BSL-3 procedures and standard surgical procedures are adhered to.
The deployment of the MBSL-3 laboratory emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive check list for preliminary deployment, deployment and phase after deployment, covering several aspects, including staff health, mobilization logistics, main installation function, device approval and control.
Published – June 25, 2025 20:48
