China CDC offers training to SLE-CHN Biosafety Lab

China CDC’s expert group assisting Sierra Leone offered theoretical and practical training on high-throughput sequencing technology for 22 technical staff members of the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Biological Safety Laboratory (SLE-CHN Biosafety Lab) from Jan 27 to Feb 18, 2022.

In the series of sessions the experts from China CDC explained basic knowledge including the theory of sequencing technology and process and operation principles before delivering three practical trainings on targeted sequencing of COVID-19 and macrogenome sequencing of unknown pathogens.

The role of gene sequencing technology is becoming more and more prominent in COVID-19 surveillance, tracing and prevention. The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) proposed the "African pathogen genome initiative (APGI)" to enhance capacity for high-throughput sequencing technology in the African Union, so as to monitor and prevent COVID-19.

The training was of great significance in improving the technical capacity of the SLE-CHN Biosafety Lab and the overall level of infectious disease monitoring, traceability and prevention and control in Sierra Leone. It is also expected to contribute to the realization of the APGI.