Project News

Cell culture

To strengthen the capacity of laboratory diagnosis on Rickettsia, training course was organized in Virology Department, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) from November 19 to 30th, 2012 under the instruction of Dr. Shuji Ando (Chief Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan). The training course included lectures and practice covering several aspects such as culture isolation method as basic laboratory diagnosis of rickettsiosis, serum and PCR diagnosis methods. Participants attending this training course were Ms. Pham Thi Thu Hang, Ms. Hoang Thu Huong and Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Linh (Laboratory of Rickettsia, Virology Department, NIHE).

In each step of test procedures using clinical specimen, they were advised to conduct test procedures with special reference to risk assessment and biosafety for handlingof suspected samples. Furthermore, introduction of disposal materials is advised to prevent cross contamination among clinical specimens from the view-point of quality control. Rickettsia testing system in Vietnam has not been established yet; hence, the appropriate selection of Rickettsia strains isolated from Vietnamese patientsis crucial to develop the standard diagnostic procedure. Lecturer also provided guidance on selection of diagnostic methods. Besides, the SOP for diagnosis of Rickettsiawill be prepared by revising the current SOP with modification.Establishment of diagnostic procedure in NIHE might promote laboratory network and surveillance activities in Vietnam.