Choosing the Right Technology for the End Users

The selection of analytical methods was a crucial component of the BICS Leg. Not only did these methods have to meet very precise Department of Defense standards, they had to be readily usable by the U.S. military personnel staffing the laboratories. Depending on the location, they vary from U.S. Air Force Biological Augmentation Teams, to U.S. Army Public Health Command scientists, to U.S. Army laboratory officers.

“We performed an exhaustive study of the pros and cons of each available laboratory technology, then selected the ones that we believed would best meet the demands we had for them,” said Janet Betters, an ECBC microbiologist and BICS lab lead. “Then we got first-hand user feedback by having the actual users at each of these laboratory locations try them out.” Following the technology selections, the ECBC team developed protocols for each piece of equipment and trained the laboratory personnel to operate them.

While the end users are varied and each laboratory has a separate command and logistics structure, they all have one thing in common — the personnel rotate in and out of these laboratories every one to three years. “Like a garden, these laboratories need to be tended. We go over to Korea to visit our USFK partners frequently,” said Redmond. “We make sure that they are operating at a high-level working order, and we make sure they are well supplied. Currently, we are working with the labs to build stronger relationships between them. Sharing their knowledge and resources will only improve their operational readiness.”

A Model for the Region

From across the sea in Japan, the U.S. Army Public Health Command Region Pacific saw the importance of the biological surveillance capability being developed in Korea. They, in turn, worked with ECBC to upgrade an existing laboratory at Camp Zama outside Tokyo, modeling it on the laboratory ECBC is currently setting up at Camp Humphreys. Once completed, both laboratories will be operated by U.S. Army Public Health Command personnel. This redundancy has strategic importance; the laboratory in Japan can serve as a backup should armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula require it.

“The capabilities we are currently providing are just a starting point. The participants in the project are already looking to add a Zika virus detection capability in Yongsan,” said Redmond. “They can all be upgraded to detect any number of other naturally occurring biological threats.”

“This team established the model for the entire region,” said Peter Emanuel, Ph.D., the Project JUPITR lead and ECBC Biosciences Division chief. “The Republic of Korea didn’t just get a material solution for their biosurveillance needs in the form of laboratory equipment and a supply chain. They learned a whole new way of addressing their biosurveillance needs. They received the non-material benefits of technical integration and a network of professional relationships. The day will come when no one will be able to imagine what the Republic of Korea’s bio-defense was like before these upgrades.”