A traveling SARS-CoV-2 laboratory as part of a pandemic response among vulnerable Brazilian populations

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Elias, Maria Carolina ; Slavov, Svetoslav Nanev ; Lima, Alex Ranieri Jeronimo ; Martins, Antonio Jorge ; Barros, Claudia Renata dos Santos ; Moretti, Debora Botequio ; Araujo, Eduardo L. ; Marqueze, Elaine Cristina ; Ribeiro, Gabriela ; Ribeiro, Gabriela Mauric Frossard ; Bernardino, Jardelina Souza Todao ; Koser, Jaqueline Reginato ; Clemente, Luan Gaspar ; Crispin, Luiz Aurelio Campos ; Alcantara Jr, Luiz Carlos ; Coutinho, Luiz Lehmann ; Giovanetti, Marta ; Silva, Quetura Oliveira ; Neto, Raul Machado ; Haddad, Ricardo ; Kashima, Simone ; Viala, Vincent Louis ; Covas, Dimas Tadeu ; Sampaio, Sandra Coccuzzo

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH; v. 23, n. 1, p. 9-pg., 2023-01-03.

Abstract

Background: Brazil has been dramatically hit by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and is a world leader in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Additionally, the largest country of Latin America has been a continuous source of SARS-CoV-2 variants and shows extraordinary variability of the pandemic strains probably related to the country & PRIME;s outstanding position as a Latin American economical and transportation hub. Not all regions of the country show sufficient infrastructure for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and genotyping which can negatively impact the pandemic response. Methods: Due to this reason and to disburden the diagnostic system of the inner Sao Paulo State, the Butantan Institute established the Mobile Laboratory (in Portuguese: LabMovel) for SARS-CoV-2 testing which started a trip of the most important "hotspots " of the most populous Brazilian region. The LabMovel initiated in two important cities of the State: Aparecida do Norte (an important religious center) and the Baixada Santista region which incorporates the port of Santos, the busiest in Latin America. The LabMovel was fully equipped with an automatized system for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and sequencing/genotyping. It also integrated the laboratory systems for patient records and results divulgation including in the Federal Brazilian Healthcare System. Results: Currently,16,678 samples were tested, among them 1,217 from Aparecida and 4,564 from Baixada Santista. We tracked the delta introductio in the tested regions with its high diversification. The established mobile SARS-CoV-2 laboratory had a major impact on the Public Health System of the included cities including timely delivery of the results to the healthcare agents and the Federal Healthcare system, evaluation of the vaccination status of the positive individuals in the background of exponential vaccination process in Brazil and scientific and technological divulgation of the fieldwork to the most vulnerable populations. Conclusions: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has demonstrated worldwide the importance of science to fight against this viral agent and the LabMovel shows that it is possible to integrate researchers, clinicians, healthcare workers and patients to take rapid actions that can in fact mitigate this and other epidemiological situations. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/10127-1 - Development of vaccine against COVID-19
• Grantee: Dimas Tadeu Covas
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research in Public Policies
• FAPESP's process: 20/00694-6 - How DNA replication contributes for the success of infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi
• Grantee: Maria Carolina Quartim Barbosa Elias Sabbaga
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/15826-5 - Evaluation of the impact of emerging and reemerging viruses in the field of hemotherapy and stem-cell transplantation by multiple-research approach
• Grantee: Svetoslav Nanev Slavov
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers
• FAPESP's process: 13/07467-1 - CeTICS - Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling
• Grantee: Hugo Aguirre Armelin
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC