1. Introduction to Mobile Laboratories
Mobile laboratories are essentially a concept designed for field investigations of sources of uncertainty or pollution. These sources can vary from air emission stacks to mobile sources and open areas. These mobile laboratories are custom-designed according to the requirements in terms of floor space, shelter area, operating conditions, hazardous material containment systems, and special purification systems. The scope for such development is highly environmentally relevant, and in the future, there will be a demand for such structural designs. Generally, mobile environmental laboratories are custom-designed to meet specific requirements for areas of application and operating environments. They can be built on utility vehicles and will generally accommodate scientific personnel as needed. They range from environmental air emission inquiries to offshore drilling, gas and oil industries, applications of gas-oil loss technology effectiveness, fire and rescue, and soil surface contamination assessments, as well as hazardous waste suspicion or threats of existence. Mobile and self-sufficient laboratories are research institutes that perform their activities through the use of motor vehicles equipped with essential tools for human health. Depending on the scope of the geographical area of work, mobile laboratory types can be classified accordingly. The unmanned mobile laboratory component adds aerial monitoring for the assistance of geochemical instruments designed for larger mobile laboratory usage.
2. Key Components of Mobile Laboratories
Deployed mobile laboratories can facilitate effective responses to rapidly evolving outbreaks through their ability to supply testing capacities in areas otherwise without access to efficient diagnostic facilities. This chapter emphasizes the important considerations regarding the different specifications of typical mobile laboratory components to ensure top-level laboratory performance. These include general laboratory equipment as well as specific requirements regarding sample analysis, sample analysis environment, sample preparation, and downstream analysis. Laboratory equipment incorporates the instruments utilized for performing the actual analyses and experiments. Other critical components of a functional mobile laboratory include personnel safety features, communication and data systems, as well as logistical considerations. An overview of the necessary operational features to support smooth laboratory operations currently and in the future is also provided. It is crucial that all of the above-mentioned components are adapted to work in unison to achieve maximum performance through recognizing the interdependencies of each part. During the deployment of mobile laboratories, potential users will also need to be trained in their operation. Communication systems can be used to access subject matter experts for real-time support. The section focuses on the specific components that form the core of mobile laboratories; it is these pieces of equipment and features that define the essence of the lab. It provides information on the following components: general laboratory equipment, analysis systems for the sample, sample analysis environment. Other important parts of a laboratory that were discussed include: sample preparation, downstream analysis, safety features for the laboratory staff, logistical considerations, communication and data systems, information technology, integration with general facilities and logistics, and training of personnel. Each of these components contributes to the overall functionality of the mobile laboratory. In order to achieve results to the best levels possible, it is important that all systems have some degree of interaction or interdependency. With all components working in harmony, the potential exists to increase overall performance.
2.1. Laboratory Equipment
A laboratory is used for performing systematic physical analyses and controlling the environment and the conditions under which the experiments are being conducted. Since it contains all the research equipment necessary for research, the quality of a laboratory and the equipment that it contains is considered the key to deciding its reliability and integrity. There are various types of equipment in a biological laboratory, which can be differentiated based on the major function that is served by it. These can include everything from simple laboratory utensils such as test tubes, microscopes, petri dishes, and others to the more sophisticated scientific instruments that are used for performing highly advanced experiments. What kind of equipment a mobile laboratory contains will depend on the purpose for which it is being used.
The selection of equipment also depends on how the laboratory will be utilized and whether it will be serving a single or more than one purpose together. Based on this, multiple classifications have been made for laboratory equipment. The selected instrument should be durable, maintenance-free, and major spare parts should be available at the disaster region. In line with this, attention should be paid to the fact that the main devices to be used should have spare devices that are compatible with each other, can be repaired easily, and the number of personnel who can handle equipment and devices at the disaster region is high. These devices should be portable and easy to carry and transport, have immunity to the working environment, and have protective structures to minimize sensor breakdowns in harsh or hostile working environments. Measuring tools and measuring devices have been developed according to the subjects of interest in certain disciplines or according to a comprehensive measurement point, which can be applied to all branches of science, including area measurement tools that can be classified and separated. These tools must be robust, quickly set up in the field, and easy to use for this purpose. They can be uncalibrated before each session. Devices must be used every day and maintained once every six months.
2.2. Safety Features
Mobile laboratories enable scientifically based decisions to be made in remote locations. A key issue in developing mobile laboratories is to ensure the safety of the laboratory personnel, secure the samples, and prevent emissions that could damage the environment. A number of general safety issues and requirements can be found in different guidelines. For mobile laboratories, safe containment of the laboratory equipment during transportation, the design of the ventilation system, development of an emergency plan, choice of personal protective equipment to be used, and training of laboratory personnel are among the important items. Operators of mobile laboratories using radioactive material need to design their laboratory and assemble their equipment to comply with regulations and practical arrangements regarding transport.
Most countries have regulations and guidelines which the design of the laboratory and its operation should follow. In those cases where specific guidelines do not exist for mobile laboratories, the minimum standards contained in relevant regulations, appropriate international guidelines, as well as relevant controlled site and transport regulations, and best industrial practice should be adopted. Such standards and guidelines are based on risk assessment. As radiation safety is the biggest issue when handling and analyzing radioactive material, great emphasis is placed on training and use of personal protective equipment. Most of the general rules of thumb that are important for all laboratory operations hold for the present laboratories, but the considerations of transport affect the detailed design of the safety systems. The design of the ventilation system is a compromise between its protective properties and the weight and dimensions. A high level of technical ambition can easily make the equipment too heavy. The circumstances under which the analytical analyses are performed make the speed and efficiency of the equipment important. The choice of design and operating conditions, as well as safety procedures, for each operation should be selected. Emergency procedures must be sufficient to mitigate consequences should unexpected major accidents occur, though we recognize that catastrophic events cannot be foreseen so that it would be impracticable to develop appropriate emergency measures. All emergency procedures must comply with local legal requirements of host nations.
2.3. Communication and Data Systems
Communication Systems Communication systems are vital for the interaction between team members and the dissemination of results and conclusions in real time from anywhere in the world. Field laboratories and clinical diagnostic mobile laboratories, as well as transportable laboratory containers and units, require robust and reliable systems for data management. A range of communication technologies exists, from satellites to mobile phone and internet connections, depending upon location and requirements: for example, a testing site may be in a testing center, a hospital car park, or a rural community with no mobile phone or internet coverage. Data Systems Data is at the heart of the field laboratory. It streams in from analytical processes or test results, is assessed to validate an analytical procedure, and then forms the majority of a report on which action will be taken or a decision made. Central to the delivery of a field laboratory service are systems for the management of electronic data obtained from analytical results and samples – the core laboratory information management systems. Cloud-based solutions for managing the end-to-end process for field-based testing effectively and securely are commercially available. App-based solutions offer analysis in the field and a cloud-based central repository for data, test kit performance, and reports. Integration of GPS, GIS, and satellite data into LIMS systems not only supports laboratory sample management and tracking in the field but also offers the effective use of data in the laboratory management system. GPS, in particular, is a key tool for handlers and users to easily see the unit’s last reported position and to track mobile units during the transfer of samples. In addition to the use of GPS for mapping and tracking, many LIMS systems offer the capability to attach photographs to samples and to use these photographs to assist in decision-making at the laboratory, as well as providing a visual record for audit and validation. Data must also be protected, and this may require encryption or the use of appropriate protocols to prevent tampering with or the falsification of the data, with solutions offered on a per-kit basis.
3. Different Types of Mobile Laboratories
Mobile laboratories, as relatively self-contained units, may be prepared to perform certain tests. Medical and healthcare systems, as well as environmental inspectors and forensic labs, can use these laboratories to expand their operations in urban, rural, and remote areas. More research is also needed to better understand the types and properties of mobile laboratories. Understanding these concepts will allow laboratories to design more accurate mobile laboratories to meet the demands of the desired industry. This chapter discusses different vehicles and purposes in the development of mobile labs in a number of industries to maximize acceptance, reliability, and work given the sort of vehicle or industry. Three major groups of mobile laboratories are classified based on their objectives and applications, with certain authorities, bodies, and private institutions utilizing these labs to provide function-specific services.
One of the most common forms of mobile medical and healthcare labs is mobile and outreach laboratories, frequently used to bring services to remote rural and sometimes urban areas. These vehicles are often equipped to offer basic medical care and health screening services. Likewise, certain vehicles might be specialized as hospital laboratories to help in the early detection of illnesses. Environmental monitoring laboratories are used to keep track of the environment and conduct safety tests in various environmental sectors. Researchers use these vehicles to gather samples and conduct on-site testing before transferring the same to a laboratory. In the industries of medicine, healthcare provision, environmental monitoring, and forensic science, mobile laboratories are a must-have. Depending on the circumstances, systems for the identification and replication of specialized mobile laboratories are required.
3.1. Medical and Healthcare Mobile Laboratories
Medical and healthcare mobile laboratories, also known as on-site rapid elementary clinical testing laboratories, have served as an important element in rural areas and forest/wilderness medical care by adapting traditional clinical testing procedures. They function with exquisite quality, considering emergencies and SOC applications, such as at schools or workplaces. In the event of an accident or hazardous materials release, where air or water quality may be compromised, there might be a need to collect and analyze samples from these locations and interpret the results to better understand the level of potential public health threats.
These operations can be conducted by the mobile laboratory, and the laboratory reports and dissemination of alerts on the situation can be conducted by electronic means. Mobile field laboratories converted from buses, tractor trailers, and even station wagons are used for conducting remote site testing of fluids and environmental samples for the detection of terrorism. A mobile lab unit is typically equipped to extract and analyze human tissues, blood, and its derivatives for different medical tests and procedures, such as hematology, coagulation, chemistry, clinical microbiology, and urine analyses, or screening using an EKG and a chest X-ray for common illnesses and pregnancy. It can also conduct telemedicine procedures with on-site capability to consult and diagnose through phone or fiber optic communication. It normally has refrigeration and access to laboratory electronic records. In such situations of local prevalence, screening could be conducted that would include allergy tests, hematology profiles, ESR/Sed rate tests, renal function tests, LFT liver function tests, coagulation chemistry analysis of blood, microbiological imaging, urinalysis, and AFP/IgM anti-occult hepatitis testing. Biological samples required include human urine and/or blood, and water or tissue, and environmental samples. As always, quality control is reserved, following medical testing standards.
Some examples of medical mobile labs include buses parked with an “examine room,” an examination table, and the capability of testing blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol levels, and limited urinalysis on-site. Other mobile units test blood, cholesterol, and blood glucose. Representatives from medical centers have offered free health care screenings in various locations. Mobile clinics provide healthcare, visits from practitioners, and a complete round of bloodwork four times a year. Challenges of a medical mobile laboratory unit include converting vehicles or buses to environmentally compliant units, satisfying HAZMAT law, ensuring regulatory compliance for clinical testing, and transport of biological waste. Resources for this service are supported by outside donation solicitations and charges for services. Mobile units started as testing units but added blood and urine testing for other common diseases. They travel the country providing needed preventative health care to seasonal employees, erasing significant amounts in indigent care bills and saving money in unpaid emergency department visits.
3.2. Environmental Monitoring Mobile Laboratories
Environmental Monitoring
Mobile laboratories are also used to conduct field assessments of ecological conditions and compliance with regulations for air, water, and soil at and around industrial facilities. The vehicles in this application section will be used to collect and analyze samples at different locations. Portable labs collect and preserve samples that will be analyzed later. These vehicles will typically have climate control systems to maintain optimal sample conditions between collection points. They will often need to have a range of containers and handling facilities to preserve and transport hazardous samples. The vehicle is considered a mobile lab at the point that they can present preliminary data to clients.
The deployment of lab equipment on a vehicle varies. For routine air quality studies, the equipment is relatively lighter and has minimal contamination protocols to follow. They are also more portable. Soil and sediments can be analyzed in the field to characterize large and complex areas and determine the optimal sampling locations. Element content can be determined analytically. If samples are relatively close to the source, consider using a ground-based fast flooding air sampling system vehicle to obtain sheltered samples. These vehicles are sophisticated and automated, collecting samples as close to a source as is possible, and collecting time-averaged samples that can be used in various applications, for example, in plume simulation to track where releases will end up. In a large number of scientific studies, laboratories on board various ships also perform real-time water and gas analysis. This application, nor shipping where countless environmental monitors are located, has not been covered. As soon as this section refers to the marine and oil industries or sees the necessary information to complete this section, we will add these applications to it. This component of this project is not yet active.
3.3. Forensic Science Mobile Laboratories
A variety of specialized mobile laboratories are developed to establish the scene of the crime and present a full range of scientific investigative skills that can be performed at the scene, enabling a short time between sampling, description, and the generation of forensic analysis results according to the needs of the crime of interest. These laboratories in distinct parts further make it possible to operate in small areas, including the construction of quick sampling workspaces, such as hot zones in concealment cases, designed to undertake field investigation. The most popular applications for mobile laboratories are toxicology, bioterrorism, nuclear counterfeiting, food and water security, organized crime, undocumented trauma, and area verification or decommissioning by verification.
The capability of the forensic mobile laboratory to function can typically analyze between 40 and 400 different compounds from environmental samples. The legal structure and quality of evidence collected from a forensic science mobile laboratory can be established at a crime scene. It is strongly recommended that the investigation be transformed into a legitimate investigation, including locking tags, sealing chains, formal photographs, and descriptions along with the chain of custody system. A significant risk at the start of a possible investigation is to secure a rear area that facilitates forensic research. Several forensic disciplines have a commercially mobile field unit, usually involving smell and behavior, drug detection dogs, casualties, ballistics, biology, anthropology, and bacteria, including parasites and ash, at a scene or building.
4. Specifications to Consider When Designing a Mobile Laboratory
When designing a mobile laboratory, the following specifications should be given careful thought: • Size: The function and location of the mobile laboratory influence the required size. Laboratories with small and simple functions often have a limited area. • Layout: Layout depends on the necessary workflow. Equipment that is used together should be placed side by side. • Access: There should be a comfortable entrance and exit for users. After taking into account the time that the user might spend inside the space, the path to be followed should be carefully planned. This path includes stations for cleaning and storing working clothes and personal protective equipment. • Laboratory equipment installation: The types and specifications of the ventilation, plumbing, and electricity infrastructure installed should be designed according to where the laboratories will be used and how they will be used, i.e., the region and field conditions.
When designing a mobile laboratory, new parameters should be taken into consideration. For design, some principles should be adopted to meet field, environmental, and operational needs. A tag-on design method would allow for versatile design of laboratories that meet varying operational needs. The application of sustainable design principles and energy-saving solutions in mobile laboratory design is essential, as are system and equipment choice and use. All measures must meet national and international laboratory and occupational health and safety regulations. Proper ventilation systems to provide individual cubic feet per minute ventilation and enough independent pathways for the flow of air below the user’s breathing zone should be installed. Space should be utilized efficiently to offer adequate storage space and a workspace for preparing samples or analyzing data at the user’s workstation. The design of a mobile laboratory should be informed by interviews with stakeholders to ensure user-friendly use.
5. Case Studies of Innovative Mobile Laboratory Designs
Abstract: As a series of innovative mobile laboratory design case studies, we describe configurations for mobile laboratories that have exceeded our most challenging design specifications and have made seminal contributions to science, engineering, and public health. Our discussion includes challenges, unconventional ideas, and equipment configurations that significantly depart from common approaches. Anchored by our decades-long interactions with cutting-edge science and technology user communities, we share cautionary stories, lessons learned, and design features that we believe should be standard for future mobile laboratory systems. We review features of these laboratories that are transferable to related or entirely new state-of-the-art mobile laboratory systems, and counsel that, unlike most successful research and development projects, the ideal design process for a specialized laboratory likely includes the anticipation of a strong likelihood of unexpected obstacles, creation, and partnership with science users early in the project, and iterative design, testing, and user interaction throughout engineering development.
A fundamental challenge of experiments in science and technology is their instantiation in the real, non-ideal world. In fields ranging from the detection of chemical weapons to international science projects, mobile laboratories continue to be indispensable integrative research instruments. In this manuscript, we review several advanced, innovative mobile laboratory facilities fielded for a range of national and global applications. These laboratories significantly transcend common conceptions of what a mobile laboratory is or could be. The unique features that allow these vehicles to be exceedingly scientific research-enabling include: (1) truly interdisciplinary laboratory capabilities and resulting diverse application space, including real-time physical and environmental sensing; (2) the ability to carry and operate the highest levels of biocontainment laboratory facilities in austere environments; (3) the provision of an unusual blend of precise analytical chemistry measurements with relevant field logistics; and (4) the ability to enable large-volume in situ physical, atmospheric, and biological collections by coupling large cargo platforms with on-board science that utilizes and also re-supplies the facilities.