To serve the research and development of vaccines against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and H5N1 avian influenza, scientists at Hanoi University of Science and Technology have successfully researched, developed, and installed a P3 level sterile laboratory. This complex device, featuring multiple technical functions, requires absolute precision and was previously only available for import from abroad.
The proactive research and production of vaccines against the SARS and H5N1 viruses are essential. To achieve this, a new P3 level sterile laboratory is necessary to isolate these viruses, enabling the study and production of the vaccines. In our country, only Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City has managed to import a complete sterile laboratory from the UK at a cost of 1 million USD.
In response to this urgent need, the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and the Institute of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Science at Hanoi University of Science and Technology collaborated on the project “Design, Manufacture, and Installation of a P3 Level Sterile Laboratory.” The project was executed by scientists including Ths. Mai Thanh Ha Hue, Engineer Vu Huy Khue, and Professor Chu Van Kinh. The scientists from the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology were responsible for technical consulting, providing documents, and some related specialized materials.
After three months of research, the scientists successfully manufactured the P3 level sterile laboratory, completing their assigned task. The sterile laboratory designed and installed by Vietnamese scientists meets all technical specifications, including an operating pressure lower than atmospheric pressure by 50 Pa, stable operating temperature, and humidity reaching 70%. The air and wastewater from the sterile laboratory ensure sterility and do not cause environmental pollution.
During installation, the scientists calculated and designed to meet conditions such as complete isolation from the external environment, safety, resistance to forces due to pressure differentials between the laboratory and the outside environment, and ease of movement in and out of the sterile laboratory.
The sterile laboratory designed and built by domestic scientists also boasts several advantages, including improvements in certain processes compared to foreign equipment. Notably, the equipment utilizes an automatic pressure control method and includes devices to control air humidity before entering the laboratory, making operation simpler.
Overcoming many challenges such as: completely new work, strict technical requirements, and non-standard materials… the P3 level sterile laboratory, with a usable area of 28m2, including a main area of 12.6 m2 and a volume of 36.5m3, has been handed over.
After the project was completed, the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and various agencies, including the Directorate for Standards, Metrology, and Quality and the World Health Organization (WHO), conducted inspections and evaluations, unanimously agreeing that the sterile laboratory meets safety level 3, fully complies with international specifications, and is suitable for researching viral strains that pose a threat to human life.
The success of domestic scientists in researching, designing, manufacturing, and installing the P3 level sterile laboratory not only meets the urgent needs of the healthcare sector but also brings high economic efficiency to the country. The sterile laboratory manufactured in Vietnam, if fully equipped for researching and producing vaccines against SARS and H5N1 viruses, would cost approximately 500 million VND. In contrast, importing an equivalent sterile laboratory from abroad would cost about 1.4 billion VND, not including installation costs.
From this success, domestic scientists can proactively provide clean sterile laboratories that meet international standards for cities and localities at prices suitable for Vietnam’s conditions, facilitating our medical experts to deeply research and produce vaccines against dangerous viruses, promptly serving the health care needs of the community.
