© M. Jörn, FLI
The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) is currently testing an innovative mobile laboratory designed to bring high-level diagnostics directly to the front lines of disease outbreaks. As the press release notes, this development is part of the EU-funded MOBILISE project, which aims to strengthen outbreak preparedness through the One Health approach—integrating human, animal, and environmental health.
The press release highlights that the mobile lab can be rapidly deployed to crisis zones where access to stationary high-security labs is limited or impossible. Unlike previous heavy and stationary lab trucks used in outbreaks like Ebola or COVID-19, the MOBILISE unit is built on a compact, all-terrain vehicle with expandable lab space, allowing it to operate efficiently even in remote regions.
As detailed in the release, the lab is outfitted with advanced molecular, serological, and microbiological diagnostic tools, and includes features such as negative pressure containment, HEPA filtration, onboard waste sterilization, and sustainable energy sources including solar power and a developing wind turbine system.
Developed by MDSC Systems OU (Estonia), the prototype is undergoing rigorous testing at FLI’s Riems facility until June 20. Following successful preliminary runs in Austria and Germany, further trials are planned in Greece and East Africa. The press release also notes that the lab’s deployment in real-world scenarios is contingent upon obtaining final operating licences.
The MOBILISE project is coordinated by the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine and includes partners from Austria, Greece, and Romania, reflecting a broad European collaboration to improve rapid disease detection and control capabilities.
Link to the original news story: FLI tests mobile One Health laboratory for diagnosing highly pathogenic pathogens | Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut