Laboratories
From the early days of establishment, leaders of Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center have always been interested in building a system of modern laboratories to improve the quality of scientific research. With the expansion and development of many new research directions, in recent years the Center has been gradually invested by the goverment with a synchronous system of facilities and laboratories meeting national and international standards. Currently, the Center has 19 laboratories, which 4 are granted with VILAS Certificate by the BoA Quality Accreditation Office - Ministry of Science and Technology under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard and 3 laboratories granted with VIMCERT Certificate by the Vietnam Environment Administration/Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to be eligible to operate environmental monitoring services under the Government’s Decree No.127/2014/NĐ-CP. In addition, the Center’s laboratory staff have always been trained and retrained to improve their qualifications at home and abroad to access and master the unit's modern equipment. Here are some typical laboratories:
TROPICAL MATERIALS
Regarding tropical materials, the Center has 3 laboratories that meet ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 standards and are located in 3 regions of the country:
- Tropical Durability Institute Laboratory at the main campus - Hanoi granted with VILAS Certificate under ISO/IEC 17025:2017; Code: VILAS 938
- Coastal Branch Laboratory at Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, granted with VILAS Certificate under ISO/IEC 17025:2017; Code: VILAS 1256.
- Southern Branch Laboratory at Ho Chi Minh City , granted with ISO 17025:2017 accreditation certificate; Code: VILAS 1236.
The testing fields of Tropical Materials Laboratories are quite diverse, including natural and accelerated testing, testing of mechanical and physical criteria of materials, testing of physicochemical analysis criteria of materials…
The laboratories’ equipment have been synchronously invested for testing activities, including Bruel & Kjae's vibration and shaking tester, Z010 TH ProLine material compression and tensile tester, Clime-Event C/1000/40/3, CCX3000 humid thermal testing cabinet corrosion tester, Ozone OREC TM Ozone test chamber, DSC3+ thermal analyzer, ED&D IP1 to IP6 testing equipment system, Dustproof Weisstechnik ST1000U testing equipment ...
The above laboratories have effectively served the scientific research activities of the Center and participated in multiple scientific and technological projects at the national, Ministry of National Defense, branch, and provincial and municipal levels. In addition, the laboratories have also provided testing services for other domestic and foreign partners such as Viettel, Vinfast... to serve the needs of national defense and people's livelihood.
Details of the laboratory's activities can be found at: www.en.v-lab.com.vn
ECOLOGY AND TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT
Chemistry-Environment Division Laboratory, granted with VILAS Certificate under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Standard; Code: VILAS 856 for the field of Chemistry; Certificate of eligibility for environmental monitoring services under the Government’s Decree No.127/2014/NĐ-CP; Code: VIMCERT 256.
Southern Branch Laboratory, granted with Certificate of ISO 17025:2017 by the Quality Accreditation Office (BoA), Ministry of Science and Technology; Code VILAS 1236 for the field of Chemistry; In the process of application for Certificate of eligibility for environmental monitoring services under the Government’s Decree No.127/2014/NĐ-CP.
Tropical Ecology Institute Laboratory, granted with Certificate of eligibility for environmental monitoring services under the Government’s Decree No.127/2014/NĐ-CP; Code: VIMCERT 278
Ecology and Tropical Environment laboratories have participated in multiple projects of the State, the Ministry of Defense, and the Center. The Chemistry-Environment Division Laboratory has the most modern equipment for dioxin and furan analysis and been considered as a unit capable of analyzing dioxins in the most samples in Vietnam, including difficult samples such as blood serum, air, and emissions. It has also been regularly invited by international organizations, including UNDP, Hatfield (Canada),… to participate in assessment of dioxin contamination in hot spots and areas at risk of dioxin contamination and perform environmental protection tasks in terms of environmental monitoring in areas where toxic dioxins are stored. During the 2016-2020 period, more than 8000 samples of dioxins, dioxin-like substances, Orange Agent, POPs, and heavy metals were analyzed.
The Tropical Ecology Institute Laboratory has chaired and participated in assessing the current status and determining solutions for managing and protecting the environment and biodiversity, such as surveying and building environmental biodiversity management models in military areas of the Military Regions; assessing the current status and determining solutions for managing and protecting the land environment for military units nationwide; and performing environmental impact assessment contracts with military and civilian units.
Details of the laboratory's activities can be found at: www.en.emalab.com.vn
TROPICAL BIOMEDICINE
The institute carries out research on toxicology and tropical infectious diseases includes monitoring, diagnosing, and preventing infectious diseases from natural sources and within communities at national, regional, and international levels. It involves the development of diagnostic tools for pathogens using recombinant DNA technology and studying the long-term effects of Agent Orange/dioxin on human health in sprayed areas. The laboratory system is fully equipped to meet technical requirements in microbiological, biochemical, immunological, and molecular biological research. In 2018, the Russian Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare sponsored the Center with a mobile testing vehicle to conduct research and monitor dangerous infectious diseases in Vietnam.
Mobile testing vehicle sponsored by the Russian Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare.
Protein purification chromatography system.
Research on Adaptation and Military Medicine includes studying the psychophysiology, occupational health, and adaptability of military personnel in tropical conditions; researching the psychophysiology of military labor; and developing, applying, and transferring advanced technologies and techniques to ensure health and enhance the effectiveness of combat training for soldiers. The laboratory is equipped with specialized and comprehensive systems to conduct research such as: Ritm-Met and UPFT-1/30 devices for assessing functional body states; Egoscop for psychophysiological evaluation; NS-Psychotest system for psychological and physiological testing and research; Statoergometr-EU for intensive training, and Reacor for biofeedback-based functional body state recovery training; thermal radiation and microclimate measurement devices, and more.
Assessing the stability of nervous system activity using the NS-Psychotest device.
Adaptive load training on the Statoergometr-EU system.
The field of Pharmacology research involves studying biologically active compounds; formulating and producing pharmaceutical preparations for disease prevention and treatment support; and collaborating on research and transferring techniques, technologies, and products in the field of pharmacology. The Institute has a comprehensive system of equipment to support research, including:
- Equipment for basic research: extraction systems, rotary evaporators, chromatography devices, laboratory safety cabinets, drying ovens, incubators, etc.
- Equipment for pharmaceutical formulation: material processing devices, drying equipment, syrup mixing, grinding, extraction, mixing, granulation machines; systems for producing hard capsules; tablet production equipment, cream formulation equipment, essential oil extraction equipment, and more.
A spray drying granulation system, encapsulation, and quality assessment of hard capsules.
The medical practice and research unit: This unit is staffed with experienced and highly qualified doctors, nurses, and technicians. It is equipped with modern facilities and equipment across various specialties such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, laboratory testing, ultrasound, X-ray, traditional medicine and rehabilitation, otolaryngology, and dentistry.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for patients.
Shortwave diathermy treatment for patients with herniated disc.
The laboratory system and its equipment have been involved in serving numerous research projects and tasks at various levels, including the Joint Committee-leveled projects, national-level tasks, Ministry of National Defense projects, as well as science and technology research projects and tasks of VRTC.
