Biosafety and Biosecurity are paramount concerns in a molecular laboratory that will test the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) samples of those who are suspected of having the Covid infection.
This was the statement of Philippine Medical Technologists Association (PAMET) Bohol chapter president, Che Acierto during a radio interview about the biosafety and biosecurity concerns on the molecular laboratory being planned inside the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH).
Acierto said that the Department of Health (DOH) is very strict when it comes to biosafety and biosecurity of molecular labs in the country especially those laboratories that are handling the tests to determine whether a specimen comes from a patient infected with Covid or not.
Acierto also said that It is important to ensure the safety of those working in the laboratory just as it is equally important to ensure the safety of the public from that laboratory, she said.
Acierto said that the biosafety level of a molecular lab is Level II, which Acierto described to be a high level of biosafety.
Acierto also said that It would be dangerous if a laboratory worker in a molecular laboratory would not comply with the safety procedures.
Acierto further said that the molecular laboratory usually is away from the public’s easy access due to the high level of biosafety.
Biosafety pertains to the protection of laboratory personnel working in rhe molecular lab to prevent infection from happening. Biosafety is a top concern as these personnel in the laboratory would be handling live viruses.
If the procedures are not followed, infection is a huge possibility.
During the interview, Acierto also touched on the topic of biosecurity.
She said that biosecurity pertains to the control of access to infectious agents such as the Covid.
She said that without biosecurity, persons may be able to gain access to infectious agents to be used in biological warfare.
Furthermore, biosecurity may also be about protecting virus data that could pave the way for persons to replicate an infectious agent and be used as a biological weapon.