Feasibility of BSL-3 laboratories implementation for Tuberculosis in three cities in Myanmar

Supporting building capacity of bio-safety level-3 laboratories for culture and drug-susceptibility testing for first and second line anti-TB drugs in Myanmar

Currently, only two laboratories (Yangon and Mandalay) are able to perform tuberculosis culture and drug susceptibility testing (DST) for identification of multi drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis. The needs for implementation of additional Biosafety Level 3 laboratories (BSL-3), in order to increase the population coverage and enhance the access to MDR diagnosis are strong in Myanmar.
As defined by NTP, authorities and WHO, the three sites of Taunggyi, Magway and Mawlamyine were assessed for the feasibility of BSL-3 laboratories implementation. A field mission has been carried out April 01-10th 2013 by one laboratory specialist in order to produce a feasibility study.