Diagnostics-in-a-suitcase for Ebola successfully tested in Africa

By the end of January, infection researcher Ahmed Abd El Wahed flew to Dakar, the capital of Senegal. The scientist from the Unit of Infection Models at the DPZ together with his Ebola project partners taught nine technicians from Senegal and Guinea how to use the mobile virus detection laboratory. Two pieces of the mobile suitcase laboratory had been assembled by the technical maintenance department of the DPZ for the job. The diagnostics-in-a-suitcase is composed of diagnostic equipment and reagents to perform a rapid test for the detection of the Ebola-genome in blood or saliva. The test is independent from a cold chain and powered by a solar battery. On the last day of the training in Senegal, two teams simulated an outbreak situation in the remote health center of Mbour, Senegal. "They were able to operate the mobile laboratory depending on a solar power pack and successfully identified the inactivated Ebola virus in spiked samples", Ahmed Abd El Wahed reported.

He is optimistic, that the World Health Organisation (WHO) will officially authorize the suitcase laboratory. He and his colleagues of the research project are still looking for a partner to support the mass production of the suitcase laboratory. Currently, one of the mobile laboratories costs about 4000 to 5000 Euros. Back in Germany, Ahmed Abd El Wahed has also presented the diagnostics-in-a-suitcase during a charity gala for the development of the health system of West Africa organized by the Sierra Leone Community of North Rhine-Westphalia state. The government of Sierra Leone has consequently taken up negotiations with the scientists to use the mobile setup. In addition, the diagnostics-in-a-suitcase will be displayed at the London Museum of Science for three months from March on.