India has made a significant breakthrough in the field of medical research with the launch of its first mobile Biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory, named ‘RAMBAAN (Rapid Action Mobile BSL-3 Advanced Augmented Network). The mobile laboratory is currently being showcased at the on-going G20 summit at Grand Hyatt Goa.
Developed in collaboration with biosafety maker Klenzeids, the mobile laboratory is designed to investigate newly emerging and re-emerging viral infections that could potentially endanger human lives.
With India being the first country in Asia to have a mobile BSL-3 lab, this cutting-edge technology is expected to bring about revolutionary change in the country’s healthcare sector. Divided into four levels, the laboratory is based on the severity of the infectious agents that it can handle safely. The lower level laboratories are equipped to handle agents that pose a lower risk to human health, while the higher-level labs are capable of safely handling more dangerous agents. India has set up laboratories at various institutions across the countries that are capable of handling Level 1 and Level 2 agents. The laboratory also plays an important role in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“BSL-3 is first of its kind in Asia and in India with the name ‘RAMBAAN’ (Rapid Action Mobile BSL-3 Advanced Augmented Network). This laboratory is capable of reaching out to the remotest areas of our nation,” says Dr. Rajni Kant, Director of Regional Medical Research Centre, Delhi.
India has two operational mobile laboratories, with one located at RMRC, Gorakhpur, catering to the north-eastern part of the country, while the southern and western parts have access to the laboratory located at NIV Pune. The mobile laboratory is equipped with a -20 degree and -80 degree refrigerator, bio-safety cabinets, an automatic Ribonucleic acid (RNA) extractor, and a real-time PCR machine.
The testing process is now easier and has reduced the time between the tests taken and the results being prepared. One unique feature of this laboratory is that it is enabled with GPS, which makes it easy and time-saving to analyze results. The motive behind exhibiting this service at the G-20 summit is to showcase the growth in the medical field and, at the same time, set a benchmark for being the first in Asia to provide such technology.
The RAMBAAN mobile laboratory has immense potential to address public health challenges and to serve as a model for other countries to follow in the field of health. With the rapid advancement in medical technology, the laboratory is likely to undergo continuous upgrades and updates to keep pace with the evolving healthcare sector. This will not only help India in dealing with infectious diseases but also play a crucial role in global health security.
The RAMBAAN mobile laboratory is a significant development in India’s healthcare infrastructure, and it has the potential to save countless lives in the future. The laboratory has a state-of-the-art infrastructure, and its technicians and staff are well-trained to handle and manage infections of varying degrees of intensity.
