The Rapid Response Mobile Lab (RRML) Network – a community of practice of lab specialists and experts created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) – recently set about creating, testing and refining a common set of RRML Minimum Operational Standards. As a part of the RRML Network, the UK-Public Health Rapid Support Team took part in the first ever Interregional Field Simulation Exercise (IFX): a three-part exercise to review and test the proposed minimum standards across the whole RRML life cycle, from pre-deployment, during outbreak response and end-of-mission phases. Here are the highlights, challenges and learnings from the three-part exercise.

21st May 2024 • comment