PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
Laboratory Biosafety: Lessons Learned From COVID-19
By Michael Marsico, MS, senior specialist, Biosafety and Biosecurity
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and its
resulting coronavirus disease (COVID-
19) present new risks and challenges for
laboratory staff. During the COVID-19
pandemic response, public health and
clinical laboratories need to ensure they are
performing quality testing safely and securely.
Los Angeles County Department of
Public Health
Nicole Green, laboratory director
We have reached out to high-volume
clinical, reference and academic clinical
laboratories within our jurisdiction that
are performing SARS-CoV-2 testing.
Information regarding personal protective
equipment (PPE), risk assessments,
sample transport and handling, and
safety competency was shared as they
transitioned from using the public health
laboratory to performing in-house testing.
Our laboratory also hosted peer-to-peer
visits for smaller clinical laboratories
to show them workflow including
pre-analytical, analytical, and postanalytical
processes with an emphasis on
staff safety during specimen processing.
The laboratories at Huntington Memorial
Hospital and Keck Medicine of the
University of Southern California were
implementing various EUA-approved
assays such as Abbott ID Now COVID-
19, Biofire FilmArray SARS-COV2,
Biofire FilmArray RP 2.1, Cepheid
SARS-COV2, Qiagen Qiastat, CDC 2019
novel coronavirus PCR, and Roche Cobas
SARS-COV2. Using resources provided by
our laboratory and APHL, they were able to
implement safety procedures for a variety
of processes, including:
• Using bio-transport specimen
containers for transporting specimens
• Decontaminating specimens upon
arrival to the laboratory
• Using double gloves with the outer
glove being a different color
• Wearing a N95 respirator while
processing specimens
• Donning a face shield and waterresistant,
closed front gown over the
regular lab coat in the coronavirus
testing lab areas
• Working within a biosafety cabinet
when processing samples.
Michigan Department of Health
and Human Services Bureau of
Laboratories
Carrie Anglewicz, biosafety officer and
laboratory outreach
Michigan’s lesson learned from this
pandemic is that education is key to
reducing mistaken perceptions. The
laboratory safety team learned that
some of our non-infectious disease
laboratorians were concerned about
their safety with SARS-CoV-2 testing in
the building. The team quickly realized
that transparency in our processes could
increase the comfort level in individuals
not directly involved with SARS-CoV-2
testing by explaining the safety controls
in place to protect everyone. Early in
the pandemic, informational sessions
were held for building staff to ask
questions regarding COVID-19 and our
testing processes. The methodology
behind the testing, safety practices such
as risk assessments, PPE and building
engineering controls, were explained to
create a better understanding among all
laboratorians.
Oregon State Public Health
Laboratory
Robert Nickla, RBP, laboratory response
network coordinator
Personnel from the Oregon State Public
Health Laboratory (OSPHL) have been
serving in various roles on the Oregon
COVID-19 Incident Management Team
(IMT), including participation in the
IMT Lab Testing Branch, Logistics and
the Safety Officer Team to assist with
the development of laboratory and
safety-related communications and
documents. Early in the response, OSPHL
was able to contribute biosafety subject
matter expertise to statewide Incident
Command System plans such as HERA
(Hazard Exposure Risk Assessment)
and HASP (Health and Safety Plan), as
well as providing input for other related
documents such as large-scale specimen
collection and transport guidance. OSPHL
personnel continue to help the state IMT
with technical biosafety and laboratoryrelated
input for drafting health alert
messages, reviewing laboratory and PPE
supplies for statewide purchasing that
will be further distributed to county
28 LAB MATTERS Summer 2020
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