STRENGTHENING
LABORATORY
INFRASTRUCTURE
In the Virgin Islands, APHL helped to equip and staff a new public health laboratory after Hurricane Maria destroyed the original facility.
STRENGTHENING
Strengthening Laboratory
Infrastructure
After two back-to-back, Category 5 hurricanes slammed into the US Virgin Islands (USVI) in September 2017, Brett Ellis, PhD, and his family had no electricity for five months. The entire USVI Department of Health building on St. Croix—which housed the public health laboratory—was condemned. “There were some dark days in the Virgin Islands,” said Ellis, the public health laboratory director.
But the timing could have been worse: the laboratory was already slated to be relocated and modernized. In fact, APHL experts had examined the old laboratory space and helped local staff prioritize testing needs, examine anticipated test volumes and revenue streams to plan for sustainability and, based on this information, determine the size of the laboratory. Said Ellis, “Even without the hurricane, we were building a public health laboratory from scratch. I don’t know where else you would go for help with that other than APHL.”
By September 2018, APHL had secured a two-year crisis response cooperative agreement from the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support rebuilding efforts in USVI, Puerto Rico and Houston, TX.
Even without the hurricane, we were building a public health laboratory from scratch.
Strengthening Laboratory
Infrastructure
After two back-to-back, Category 5 hurricanes slammed into the US Virgin Islands (USVI) in September 2017, Brett Ellis, PhD, and his family had no electricity for five months. The entire USVI Department of Health building on St. Croix—which housed the public health laboratory—was condemned. “There were some dark days in the Virgin Islands,” said Ellis, the public health laboratory director.
But the timing could have been worse: the laboratory was already slated to be relocated and modernized. In fact, APHL experts had examined the old laboratory space and helped local staff prioritize testing needs, examine anticipated test volumes and revenue streams to plan for sustainability and, based on this information, determine the size of the laboratory. Said Ellis, “Even without the hurricane, we were building a public health laboratory from scratch. I don’t know where else you would go for help with that other than APHL.”
Even without the hurricane, we were building a public health laboratory from scratch.
By September 2018, APHL had secured a two-year crisis response cooperative agreement from the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support rebuilding efforts in USVI, Puerto Rico and Houston, TX.
The association fast-tracked its normal administrative processes to get the laboratory up and running as quickly as possible. “We knew it would be a challenge to manage and spend the money during that [two-year] timeframe,” said Ellis. “But we were confident that APHL could manage those large amounts of money well.”
To have APHL to lean on was really a big advantage for us.
After CDC provided support for a modern, 2,000-square-foot structure to house the laboratory—made from six shipping containers—APHL set about hiring staff and buying equipment to handle a test menu focusing on leptospirosis (a tropical bacterial disease), foodborne and waterborne illnesses, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, respiratory illnesses, special pathogens and tuberculosis (TB).
One of the challenges we have in the Virgin Islands is that we don’t have a large medical technology school to recruit from. APHL has its own network,” said Ellis. “Because of the hurricane, our government processes were really hampered. We knew that, without APHL, hiring and purchasing would be extended and would take three months, six months or longer. To have APHL to lean on was really a big advantage for us.”
To have APHL to lean on was really a big advantage for us.
The association fast-tracked its normal administrative processes to get the laboratory up and running as quickly as possible. “We knew it would be a challenge to manage and spend the money during that [two-year] timeframe,” said Ellis. “But we were confident that APHL could manage those large amounts of money well.”
After CDC provided support for a modern, 2,000-square-foot structure to house the laboratory—made from six shipping containers—APHL set about hiring staff and buying equipment to handle a test menu focusing on leptospirosis (a tropical bacterial disease), foodborne and waterborne illnesses, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, respiratory illnesses, special pathogens and tuberculosis (TB).
One of the challenges we have in the Virgin Islands is that we don’t have a large medical technology school to recruit from. APHL has its own network,” said Ellis. “Because of the hurricane, our government processes were really hampered. We knew that, without APHL, hiring and purchasing would be extended and would take three months, six months or longer. To have APHL to lean on was really a big advantage for us.”
During 2019, the association:
- Purchased equipment for state-of-the-art molecular testing.
- Worked through consultants to stand up an electronic laboratory information management system able to log and track specimens, create data reports and legal audit trails, and carry out billing, inventories, electronic laboratory reporting and quality control processes.
- Procured vaccine freezers and equipment for TB directly observed therapy for the territorial health department.
- Helped to onboard eight staff members. While APHL had a hands-on role recruiting and interviewing candidates, due to complex USVI labor laws individuals were hired through a professional employment organization, with contracts funded by APHL and running at least through August 2020. APHL plans to fill 16 positions in all.
- Purchased equipment for state-of-the-art molecular testing.
- Worked through consultants to stand up an electronic laboratory information management system able to log and track specimens, create data reports and legal audit trails, and carry out billing, inventories, electronic laboratory reporting and quality control processes.
- Helped to onboard eight staff members. While APHL had a hands-on role recruiting and interviewing candidates, due to complex USVI labor laws individuals were hired through a professional employment organization, with contracts funded by APHL and running at least through August 2020. APHL plans to fill 16 positions in all.
- Procured vaccine freezers and equipment for TB directly observed therapy for the territorial health department.
Banner: The temporary lab structure is wired for power. Photo: USVI PHL
Top Left: Storm damage is assessed in one of the laboratory offices. Photo: USVI PHL
Bottom Right: USVI Epidemiologist Dr. Valicia Burke-France and CDC Microbiologist Amy Kahler prepare grab samples from household water sources for culture testing. Photo: USVI PHL
