Establishing a Stand-Alone Laboratory Dedicated to the Care of Patients with Ebola Virus Disease

Objective: To describe the process for establishment of a stand-alone laboratory dedicated to testing for Ebola virus disease (EVD). Methods: We selected 2 neighboring rooms for the EVD unit: 1 for patient care and 1 for laboratory testing. A limited test menu was developed after consultation with the team of healthcare providers treating patients with EVD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, and other sites with EVD expertise. Results: We selected several point-of-care (POC) devices and manual assays to provide necessary testing. Three new instruments were purchased to meet testing needs (Abaxis Piccolo Xpress, Sysmex pocH-100i, and Helena Cascade) and accuracy, precision and reportable range were verified and found to be consistent with the manufacturers' claims. Training was obtained for volunteering laboratory staff members before the initiation of laboratory operation, involving simulation of all procedures. Conclusions: The establishment of a stand-alone unit and laboratory dedicated to the care of patients with EVD minimizes the risk of spreading EVD among hospital patients and employees. Risk assessment, instrument validation, and employee training are major components that contribute to the success of establishing this type of laboratory.