Biological Risk Assessment: Zika Virus Detection at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine

Authors

  • Plebeian Medina Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines
  • Catherine Calzado Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines
  • Rex Centeno Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines
  • Amado Tandoc III Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2186-4989
  • Socorro Lupisan Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21141/PJP.2016.004

Keywords:

Zika virus, biosafety risk, risk assessment, biosafety, biohazards, likelihood, consequence, BioRAM©

Abstract

Background. Biosafety is the application of containment principles and risk assessment. Risk assessment is an essential component of biological risk management program. It determines the most appropriate mitigation control measure to minimize the risk of Laboratory Acquired Infections (LAIs). In the laboratory response to emerging disease causing pathogen such as Zika virus, the risk for laboratory exposure and infection must be assessed.

Objectives.  We have conducted biosafety risk assessment of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine’s (RITM) Virology Laboratory to identify the hazards, characterize the risks, determine laboratory compliance with biosafety standards and the competence of the laboratory personnel involved as part of the institutional preparedness for disease outbreak investigation and surveillance of Zika Virus. The information gathered shall guide the selection of appropriate mitigation control measures for the prevention of LAIs.

Methodology. We utilized the Biosafety for Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 5th Edition guidelines in conducting risk assessment. Risk characterization was performed by determining the likelihood and the consequence of the identified biological risk and plotting it in a diagram using Microsoft Excel. Risk characterization of ZikV was compared using the risk assessment tool, BioRAM© developed by Sandia National Laboratory.

Results. The RITM Virology laboratory is generally compliant to the basic biosafety standards. Laboratory staff has established competence and experience in handling specimens for diagnostic test by ELISA and PCR. The risk of infection with ZikV is found to range from very low to low, however, the risk of acquiring other blood-borne pathogens brought by handling serum samples is found to be higher.

Conclusion.  We have analyzed the risk of acquiring Zika at the RITM Virology laboratory as part of the institute’s overall preparedness, through biological risk assessment as described in BMBL 5th Edition. The risk of acquiring ZikV infection while performing diagnostic tests range from very low to low. The risk of acquiring other blood borne pathogens is higher  compared to the risk of infection to the pathogen being assessed. Mitigation control measures against direct contact and percutaneous exposure must be implemented and monitored. This risk assessment strategy will further strengthen  RITM laboratory’s capacity to respond to infectious disease threats and increase staff confidence in dealing with infectious materials in the laboratory.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Plebeian Medina, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines

Laboratory Research Division

Catherine Calzado, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines

Laboratory Research Division

Rex Centeno, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines

Laboratory Research Division

Amado Tandoc III, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines

Laboratory Research Division

Socorro Lupisan, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines

Director's Office

References

1. Sikka V, Chattu VK, Popli RK, et al . The emergence of zika virus as a global health security threat: a review and a consensus statement of the INDUSEM Joint working Group (JWG). J Glob Infect Dis. 2016;8(1):3–15. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-777X.176140.

2. Duffy MR, Chen TH, Hancock WT, et al. Zika virus outbreak on Yap Island, Federated States of Micronesia. N Engl J Med 2009;360(24):2536–43. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0805715. PMID: 19516034.

3. Musso D, Nhan T, Robin E, et al. Potential for zika virus transmission through blood transfusion demonstrated during an outbreak in French Polynesia, November 2013 to February 2014. Euro Surveill. 2014.19(15):1-3. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2014.19.14.20761.

4. Pessôa R, Patriota JV, de Souza L, et al. Investigation into an outbreak of dengue-like illness in Pernambuco, Brazil, revealed a cocirculation of zika, chikungunya, and dengue virus type 1. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(12):e3201. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000003201. PMID: 27015222.

5. Grenoble R, Almendrala A, Schumaker E. WHO declares public health emergency around zika virus. 2016. (News). Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/world-health-org-zika-virus-emergency_us_56af781ae4b077d4fe8ec2ac. Accessed March 28, 2015.

6. Alera MT, Hermann L, Tac-An IA et al. Zika virus infection, Philippines, 2012. Emerg Infect Dis. 2015;21(4): 722–4. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2104.141707.

7. Montano I. DOH confirms American woman tested positive for zika while in PH (News). http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/03/06/doh-american-woman-positive-zika-ph.html. Accessed March 28, 2015.

8. Chosewood LC, Wilson DE. Biosafety in microbiological and biomedical laboratories, 5th Ed., 2009.
http://www.cdc.gov/biosafety/publications/bmbl5/bmbl.pdf.

9. Dick GW, Kitchen SF, Haddow AJ. Zika virus (I). Isolations and serological specificity. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1952;46(5):509-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/0035-9203(52)90042-4.

10. Lanciotti RS, Kosoy OL, Laven JJ, et al. Genetic and serologic properties of Zika virus associated with an epidemic, Yap State, Micronesia, 2007. Emerg Infect Dis 2008;14(8):1232‒1239.

11. Hayes EB. Zika virus outside Africa. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009;15(9)1347–50. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1509.090442.

12. Foy BD, Kobylinski KC, Chilson Foy JL, et al. Probable non-vector-borne transmission of Zika virus, Colorado, USA. Emerg Infect Dis. 2011;17(5):880–8. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1705.101939.

13. Armstrong H, Hennessey M, Adams M, et al. Travel-associated zika virus disease cases among U.S. Residents - United States, January 2015-February 2016. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(11):286-9.

14. Oehler E, Watrin L, Larre P, et al. Zika virus infection complicated by Guillain-Barre syndrome – case report, French Polynesia, December 2013. Euro Surveill. 2014;19(9). https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2014.19.9.20720.

Downloads

Published

04/26/2016

How to Cite

Medina, P., Calzado, C., Centeno, R., Tandoc III, A., & Lupisan, S. (2016). Biological Risk Assessment: Zika Virus Detection at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. PJP, 1(1), 19–23. https://doi.org/10.21141/PJP.2016.004

Issue

Section

Original Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 3 > >>