A list of members included in Beijing's SARS research network
was decided on December 22. With the National Center for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Beijing CDC at its core, the
network includes six other members, such as the Beijing Genome
Research Institute of the Chinese
Academy of Sciences. And the Beijing 120 Emergency Center is
designated to be in charge of the transportation of SARS samples.
The Beijing SARS lab network is put under the direct leadership of
the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau.
The formal establishment of the network indicates that once the
epidemic of SARS returns, the case will be handled under emergency
conditions. The Beijing CDC will assign various tasks to each of
the network members in accordance with their advantageous
conditions so that they can quickly and scientifically carry out
related testing or research, with information resources shared by
all the members. Meanwhile, in order to guarantee the safety of
Beijing citizens, other labs in the Beijing area are no longer
allowed to conduct any test and research concerning SARS.
SARS labs demand prompt integration
According to Jia Mingyan, director of the Science and Education
Department of the Municipal Health Bureau, in the past, there were
too many labs conducting SARS-related researches in Beijing, making
the work out of control. A few unqualified labs which were not
either prepared with the required testing reagents, nor provided
with proper conditions, were also conducting SARS tests. It was not
only a potential risk for the spread of SARS, but also led to
unnecessary sufferings of the patients due to repeated blood
drawing.
In order to maintain the safety of patients and researchers, as
well as the biological safety, and to guarantee the quality of SARS
tests and researches, Beijing has set up its SARS lab network by
making full use of the resources -- that from the state, the local
institutes and the military. Once SARS occurs, a professional and
well-trained team will take samples according to testing
requirements and the tests will be conducted by relative labs. The
test taken out in an assigned lab will be compared with that of the
central lab so as to guarantee the accuracy of the result.
Each network member has its own function
It is reported that the two central units, the National CDC and
Beijing CDC, will take the responsibility of the network's quality
surveillance. They will conduct analysis and check on every testing
result taken by other member labs. Besides, they will also be
responsible for collecting, registering and safekeeping SARS
samples. Meanwhile, the member labs must follow the four
principles: first, once emergency occurs they must be able to get
into operation and give quick reaction; second, they must adhere to
the principle of keeping secret -- there should be no publication
of relative achievements, information, data and thesis without
authorization; third, the share of internal resources within the
network must be guaranteed, and any of their tests should be
re-tested by other member labs so as to guarantee the accuracy;
fourth, the SARS samples must be managed in a unified way to make
sure that all samples are properly kept by the Beijing CDC and
other member labs must report regularly to the central sample bank
on the quantity and utilizing conditions of their samples.
Appropriate funds to support network
construction
The construction of the Beijing SARS lab network will become
part of the general plan of the municipal's public health system
with appropriate allocation for each year. Once the epidemic
prevails or some major emergency issues occur, more funds will be
added according to specific situation. Director Jia said that the
set-up of the Beijing SARS lab network is a test for the Beijing
Municipal Health Bureau too. After the network was successfully put
into operation, the member labs will be able to conduct researches
beyond that for SARS under emergency conditions. The network will
be capable in coping with unexpected event concerning public
health, such as poisoning and biological terrorism.
(China.org.cn by Wang Qian December 29, 2003)