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Providing On-Site Laboratory and Biosafety Just-In-Time Training Inside a Box-Based Laboratory during the West Africa Ebola Outbreak: Supporting Better Preparedness for Future Health Emergencies

Published on 4 November 2025
During infectious disease outbreaks or major crises, the JiTT approach can rapidly expand access to critical diagnostic testing and train local staff.
Research papers

Providing On-Site Laboratory and Biosafety Just-In-Time Training Inside a Box-Based Laboratory during the West Africa Ebola Outbreak: Supporting Better Preparedness for Future Health Emergencies

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Author details
Bentahir, Mostafa (1); Barry, Mamadou Diouldé (2), Koulemou, Kekoura (3); Gala, Jean-Luc (1)*

1 Centre for Applied Molecular Technologies (CTMA), Institute of Clinical and Experimental Research,
Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 54-55, B1.54.01, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
2 Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques Virales de Guinée, N’Zérékoré P.O. Box 50, Guinea
3 Laboratory of the Prefectural Hospital of Gueckedou, Gueckedou P.O. Box 82, Guinea
* Correspondence: jean-luc.gala@uclouvain.be; Tel.: +32-276-433-325
Unique identifier
https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph191811566
Research paper

The B-LiFE field laboratory is a modular, rapidly deployable lab for outbreak response. During the 2014–2015 Ebola outbreak in Guinea, it provided on-site diagnostics at the N’Zerekore Ebola Treatment Center while training two local biologists through a just-in-time training programme. The biologists gained hands-on experience in biochemical testing, viral load quantification, and novel diagnostic tools, enhancing both their skills and B-LiFE’s operational capacity, and subsequently joined follow-on programmes to support epidemic control.

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Hazard types

Biological Pandemics and epidemics

DRM Phases

Preparedness Response

Geographic focus

all Europe/EU

Sectors

Education & Training Health

Risk drivers

Environmental degradation Urbanisation