Key Stages in the Development of SAET Laboratory Facilities
Considered are the stages of the SAET laboratory facilities development. Initially main area of activities was assumed to be specific indication of bacterial threats and laboratory control over the ambient environment objects for the presence of particularly dangerous infectious disease agents. Significant increment in the workload occurred during the period of localization and elimination of epidemic cholera manifestations in the 1970s, when primary tasks of bacteriological unit consisted in carrying out mass bacteriological investigations of samples from humans, environment objects, and food items. Assignment of new functions to the laboratory facilities, such as performance of sanitary-microbiological investigations, monitoring over ambient environment objects for the presence of vibrio-flora and natural-focal infectious disease agents, clinical material assays - is associated with SAETs participation in liquidation of medical-sanitary consequences of natural disasters and human cost relief as aftermaths of military conflicts, as well as participation in management of mass events with international representation. Most important issues in the development of SAET laboratory facilities are implementation of advanced diagnostic technologies, automatization of various stages in the process of analysis performing, standardization of diagnostic investigations, and ensuring compliance of the facilities with national and international requirements.