On September 10, the World Bank together with the Government of Armenia opened the newly reconstructed Central Veterinary Laboratory in the Erebuni district of Yerevan. The event was attended by Mr. Tigran Sargsyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and Mr. Philippe Le Houérou, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia.
The Central Veterinary Laboratory, or as it is formally called Republican Veterinary Anti-epizootic and Diagnostic Center SNCO, was rehabilitated through the financing under the Avian Influenza Preparedness Project. The total rehabilitation and renovation costs were around US$ 1.5 mln financed by IDA loan plus around US$ 100,000 for the design financed by Multi-donor trust fund from Avian and Human Influenza Facility. The original building of the laboratory was fully redesigned to meet the modern standards of bio-safety and laboratory operation. The design was done by a Lithuanian company, which specializes in laboratory designs and operations.
The laboratory would now be able to meet the international accreditation standards for bio-safety level 2+. This means that the laboratory would be able to conduct necessary tests and analysis for identification of dangerous pathogens in animals and in food. With the further accreditation, which could be completed within 5 years if necessary efforts are taken by the laboratory and by the government of Armenia, the laboratory would be able to become the national reference laboratory for Armenia. This means that its tests would be recognized by other countries and by international organizations, such as OIE (World Organization for Animal Health). If this is done, this would ensure much speedier response to animal disease outbreaks and much speedier identification of pathogens and diseases.
Current rehabilitated and renovated laboratory facilities would allow conducting the range of tests most widely used in identification of pathogens and diseases in animals and food contaminants. The laboratory now encompasses about 3200 sq. meters of space when compared to the 700 sq. meters available prior to rehabilitation. Each laboratory unit now has its purpose built facilities; whereas previously several different tests were conducted in one room. This means that the tests are conducted in designated laboratories with higher accuracy, repeatability and lower rates of cross-contamination. The upgraded air flow, filtration and ventilation systems ensures that the laboratory air could be fully isolated from outside air, and thus reduces the possibility of release of pathogens to outside.
In addition, to the physical rehabilitation of the laboratory, it was supported also with technical advice and guidance from international experts. In particular, the Project provided an international accreditation expert who helped develop the laboratory management and quality control guidelines. Quality control is essential for ensuring accurate and reliable results in such laboratories. The comprehensive design of the laboratory facilitated other donor projects to support the laboratory with necessary equipment. In particular, the laboratory has already been supported by several other donors (Greek government, USAID, FAO, US DTRA) and plans are that more international support would be provided through lab equipment and technical assistance.
The full rehabilitation of the laboratory was made possible after the Avian Influenza (AI) preparedness project was restructured to address a broader spectrum of diseases that are important both from the public health and economic perspective. Originally, it was planned that the Avian Influenza Preparedness project would help Armenia to set up important resources to combat the potential AI epidemic. However, as AI was not reported in Armenia, and as other diseases have become more important (e.g. African swine fever, Brucellosis), the authorities requested that the project help build a broader capacity in animal and human health services to combat such disease outbreaks, and to reduce threats.
The Avian Influenza Preparedness Project was financed by an IDA credit of US$ 6.25 mln, Japanese PHRD grant of US$ 0.804 mln, and by multi-donor AHI Facility Grant of US$ 2 mln. The project became effective September 5, 2006 and on closed on July 31, 2010.
