CDC in Kazakhstan: COVID-19 Lab Response

What to know

U.S. CDC donated laboratory equipment to Kazakhstan and trained laboratorians during COVID-19 to increase testing capacity. Processing more tests and returning results faster helps slow the spread of COVID-19 and saves lives. Workforce training and equipment continue to be valuable to respond to future public health emergencies in Kazakhstan.

Sustainability is an important factor for U.S. CDC when deciding which area of public health to support as part of COVID-19 relief efforts. The donated equipment will be used in SPCSEEM long after the pandemic is over, not just for COVID-19, but for other infectious diseases as well.

Photo essay

Photo of a laptop and laboratory equipment.
U.S. CDC collaborated with Kazakhstan throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, providing much needed equipment and supplies. Some of those were delivered to the Scientific and Practical Center for Sanitary and Epidemiologic Expertise and Monitoring (SPCSEEM). Photo credit: Maxim Malov/ Maxim Malov Videography
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Photo of 3 laboratorians talking.
CDC Central Asia Laboratory Advisor Dr. Dmitriy Berezovskiy manages the delivery of supplies and equipment to several laboratories in Kazakhstan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Berezovskiy trains local laboratorians on threat agent detection and response, as well as basic and advanced methods to identify especially dangerous pathogens (germs that can cause disease). Photo credit: Maxim Malov/ Maxim Malov Videography
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Photo of two stacks of cardboard boxes with "CDC" on them.
Each time a new piece of equipment is delivered to a laboratory, Dr. Dmitriy Berezovskiy makes sure local representatives of the company that produced the equipment provide necessary training to the staff of the laboratories on how to use it. Photo credit: Yerbulan Akhmetov/CDC Central Asia
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Photo of a laboratorian holding a pipette while wearing gloves and personal protective equipment.
Thanks to this equipment donation, the Scientific and Practical Center for Sanitary and Epidemiologic Expertise and Monitoring (SPCSEEM) could process COVID-19 tests more quickly. The time from sample arrival to results decreased from 48 hours to 24 hours once Kazakhstan received the equipment. In this photo, microbiologist Assem Yermekbayeva tests samples in the laboratory. Photo credit: Maxim Malov/ Maxim Malov Videography
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Photo of a laboratorian wearing personal protective equipment while standing in front of a laboratory hood.
Quick turnaround of laboratory tests has a direct impact on patient care. Getting the results quicker means patients are diagnosed and can be treated faster. In this photo, microbiologist Assem Yermekbayeva uses newly acquired equipment at the SPCSEEM in Kazakhstan. Photo credit: Maxim Malov/ Maxim Malov Videography
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Photo of a laboratorian putting on protective eyewear while wearing personal protective equipment.
Sustainability is an important factor for U.S. CDC when deciding which area of public health to support as part of COVID-19 relief efforts. The donated equipment will be used in SPCSEEM long after the pandemic is over, not just for COVID-19, but for other infectious diseases as well. Photo credit: Maxim Malov/ Maxim Malov Videography
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Photo of a laboratorian using lab equipment.
Donating equipment and supplies is one way that U.S. CDC supports laboratories, including the one at SPCSEEM. Since the beginning of the pandemic, CDC has provided more than 150 hours of webinars for 721 laboratory specialists in Kazakhstan. This training will help the country respond to future disease outbreaks as needed. Photo credit: Maxim Malov/ Maxim Malov Videography
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Content Source:
Global Health Center