The "Russian gift" is being effectively used in the fight against COVID-19 in Vietnam

These days, in view of the difficult situation with Coronavirus in Vietnam, especially in Bac Giang province, the Ministry of Defense of Vietnam has sent a mobile diagnostic and monitoring laboratory of Vietnamese-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center to the pandemic areas to support localities in testing and identifying cases of SARS-COV-2 infection.

The mobile laboratory for the surveillance and diagnosis of dangerous infectious diseases was presented to Vietnam by Russia in early 2019. The laboratory is used for rapidly responding to dangerous infectious diseases and other natural communicable diseases and detecting infectious diseases caused by bacteria and viruses in biological and environmental samples. This has been the first and only mobile laboratory in Vietnam so far. According to Deputy Director of the Institute of Tropical Medicine - Lieutenant Colonel Vo Viet Cuong, this laboratory is an invaluable gift to Vietnam from Russian friends. Especially, it is effectively used in emergency work against the COVID-19 in Vietnam. He said: “Vietnam and Russia in recent years have paid special attention to cooperation in the field of research on dangerous infectious diseases. Within the framework of implementing the cooperation program for the 2017-2019 period, the Russian side presented the Russia - Vietnam Tropical Center a mobile laboratory. This laboratory is designed for the research and monitoring of particularly dangerous infectious diseases. As the laboratory is placed on a truck pedestal, it has a high mobility. It is fully equipped with modern equipment necessary for the rapid and accurate detection of infectious diseases. The vehicle itself has been designed with a high degree of biosecurity to prevent pathogens from spreading into the environment and contamination of personnel working inside the vehicle. "

The laboratory is placed on the off-road vehicle KAMAZ 43118 with the large words outside "Sponsorship from the Russian Federation for Vietnam". The entire process of receiving, analyzing, and processing clinical samples is done inside this vehicle in a closed loop. During the working process, negative pressure is activated in the work areas, which helps prevent the spread of viral infections to the outside. The air is filtered through a HEPA filter system. The samples are then disinfected in the laboratory vehicle before being released. Mr. Vo Viet Cuong said: “The laboratory is equipped with research and testing equipment for molecular biology, immunology, and microbiology. It can conduct 400 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests per day and, with the help of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), about 400-500 samples per day (at 8 hour at work). It can be said that this laboratory allows an effective and quick response to outbreaks, especially in areas with difficult economic conditions and lack of necessary infrastructure.”

After receiving the mobile laboratory from Rospotrebnadzor, Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center has effectively used it in many survey trips and researches on particularly dangerous infectious diseases that comply with all biosafety requirements. From March to May 2019, the scientific staff of Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center and Russian experts used the mobile laboratory to conduct epidemiological monitoring of the plague and some zoonotic diseases in 7 northern border provinces of Vietnam, including Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Quang Ninh.

Especially, when the COVID-19 pandemic started in Vietnam in early 2020, the Center's staff developed the testing process and was recognized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health for SARS-COV-2 testing capacity. The Center has very effectively used the mobile laboratory vehicle to support units under the Ministry of Defense, authorities, and local people in the prevention and control of COVID-19. During the outbreak in Da Nang, the Ministry of Defense of Vietnam sent the mobile laboratory vehicle and mobilized the Center's staff to coordinate with Military Region 5 in participating in pandemic prevention and control activities in Da Nang to prevent the spread of the disease within military units and localities. According to Lieutenant Colonel Vo Viet Cuong, in recent days, the Support Center has strengthened its forces and mobilized all necessary means of support for Bac Giang province to quickly control the pandemic.

Although the mobile laboratory is small, it has great value in the fight against the pandemic and continues to be a clear demonstration of the successful Technical-Military cooperation between Vietnam and the Russian Federation.

Source: VOV05 world