Table 2.

Examples of BSL-3 laboratories adapted or created to support the fight against COVID-19.

Laboratory	Country	Information	Reference
Central Reference Laboratory (National Reference BSL-3 Laboratory)	Kazakhstan	It was set up before the pandemic and was the first laboratory in Central Asia accredited according to the new international standard for managing biological risks in laboratories. During the pandemic, it supported the development of vaccines, diagnosis, and isolation of SARS-CoV-2 variants.	[38]
MRIGlobal BSL-3	United States	Laboratories are managed by MRIGlobal, a nonprofit institution that aims to discover solutions for public and private scientific organizations. It was one of the first US institutions to dedicate one of its BSL-3 units to SARS-CoV-2 research.	[38]
Taiwan CDC BSL-3 Laboratory	Taiwan	Infrastructure previously dedicated to handling viruses, such as the Japanese encephalitis virus, was directed during the COVID-19 pandemic to diagnose SARS-CoV-2, contributing directly to the fight against the pandemic in the country.	[38]
Mobile Virology Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (MVRDL)	India	Created at the beginning of the pandemic, the MVRDL is characterized by being a mobile unit and, consequently, having greater flexibility. Its infrastructure was set up by WHO and Indian Council of Medical Research guidelines within a 15-day interval. The activities at the MVRDL are focused on research and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2.	[45]
BSL-3 laboratories at Arizona State University	United States	Adaptation of the pre-existing BSL-3 infrastructure for handling SARS-CoV-2 by NIH and CDC guidelines. The new BSL-3 laboratory was used for COVID-19 diagnosis and research.	[46]