As part of the roadmap to enhance research and diagnostic capabilities for Talaromyces marneffei in Vietnam, the Tropical Medicine Research Center for Talaromycosis (TMRC) dispatched its core laboratory personnel to attend an intensive training session on specimen transport and reception on the afternoon of November 13, 2025.
The two-hour session was held at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU), located within the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (HTD). This practical initiative aims to reinforce sub-clinical practice skills for TMRC staff, ensuring the integrity of specimens from various research sites to the laboratory. As TMRC advances research into cutting-edge, non-culture-based diagnostic, such as Real-time PCR and D4-POCT (Point-of-Care Testing), strict control over pre-analytical procedures has become a critical factor in determining the accuracy of research outcomes.
The training was led by seasoned experts in laboratory management and medical testing. Mr. Le Duy Hoang Chuong (Laboratory Manager at OUCRU) and Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Nga (Chief Medical Technologist at the HTD Laboratory Department) provided direct guidance on local and international standards for biosafety and the secure transport of biological and clinical samples. Key topics included: (1) advanced packaging techniques, (2) temperature-controlled preservation, (3) strict handover protocols to minimize errors or infection risks during transit.
The event saw full attendance from TMRC’s core team, including transport personnel, the reception unit, and the entire project’s laboratory staff. Through direct dialogue with OUCRU and HTD experts, participants not only mastered theoretical concepts but also resolved practical challenges, leading to a unified workflow across departments.
Standardizing operations from the initial point of sample reception not only optimizes the efficiency of TMRC’s key research projects but also underscores the center’s commitment to building a sustainable medical research system. These efforts play a vital role in the overarching goal: reducing mortality rates and the economic burden for patients suffering from Talaromyces marneffei infection and other tropical pathogens, both in Vietnam and globally.