High Level Lab

(A) BIOSAFETY LEVEL 3 LABORATORIES (BSL-3)

INTRODUCTION

The Institute houses two BSL-3 laboratories namely, Retro-Virology and Emerging Pathogen Bio- containment laboratories. Both labs operate under negative pressure.The Institute houses two BSL-3 laboratories namely, Retro-Virology and Emerging Pathogen Bio- containment laboratories. Both labs operate under negative pressure.

THE RETRO-VIROLOGY BIOCONTAINMENT BSL-3 LABORATORY

The lab is dedicated to HIV research work dealing with cultureof high concentrations of the virus. This may include but not limited to work such as testing any HIV drug target or products that may inhibit HIVfro m entry into host cells as well as _ neutralizations assays.

ENHANCED BIO-CONTAINMENT BSL-3 LABORATORY

This laboratory is equipped with a class Ill biological safety cabinet. Due to the higher level of containment offered by this lab, this facility can handle many of the risk group4 microorganisms.

Consequently, it has the potential for;

Research on emerging and re-emerging risk group4 pathogens,
Surveillance and control of emerging and re-emerging pathogens and
Participating in disease outbreak in East, Central and Southern Africa region

Overview

THE RETRO-VIROLOGY BIOCONTAINMENT BSL-3 LABORATORY

Storage of human biological material either for short or long term is always a challenge to many researchers with limited resources and short term projects.

At UNITID, we have a specious bio- repository room equipped with one large liquid nitrogen tank and several medium size tanks. The facility also has several minus 80 freezers.

All these are currently used for storage of biological samples for research purposes.

However, there is still a lot of room for storage of samples for other researchers who would wish to store their samples for long term purposes.

ENHANCED BIO-CONTAINMENT BSL-3 LABORATORY

Our molecular biology laboratory is equipped with stateof art PCR equipment that includes RT-PCR machine (ABI7500), a sequencer (ABI 3130)and thermo cyclers. With this facility, we are capable of performing any molecular techniques ranging from basic PCR to sequencing.

Currently, our laboratory is engaged in the following techniques; HIV drug resistance testing, HIV viral load, screening of Human papillomavirus, Chlamydia trachomatis and Gonorrhea.