The first in the country.. Dubai launches a laboratory to detect food-borne viruses using genomic technologies

Dubai Municipality launched the “ViruGenetics” laboratory for advanced detection of food-borne viruses using the latest genomic technologies, in a step considered the first of its kind in the country, and reflects its continued commitment to strengthening the food safety system and adopting innovation in laboratory services.
The laboratory operates with an operational capacity of about 60 samples per day, with the possibility of raising the operational capacity to 100 samples per day in emergency situations, completing tests and issuing results within a record period of time, which contributes to accelerating control procedures and making decisions based on accurate and reliable results.
The Dubai Central Laboratory is the first in the country to employ these advanced technologies in examining food-related viruses, which reflects Dubai Municipality’s keenness to develop its laboratory capabilities and adopt innovation in the field of advanced testing, enhances community confidence in traded food products, and consolidates Dubai’s position as a global leader in the field of food safety and health control, while ensuring the highest levels of accuracy and reliability in laboratory results.
This service comes as a qualitative addition to the Dubai Central Laboratory services system, keeping pace with the best international practices in the field of food control, and contributes to supporting the goals of Dubai Municipality towards strengthening the food safety system in the emirate to be more sustainable and efficient, in addition to developing and applying globally recognized standards for laboratory testing and calibration certificates.
In developing this service, the central laboratory relied on (Digital PCR) technology, which is considered one of the latest molecular analysis techniques in the world, because it provides high accuracy and sensitivity in the quantitative and qualitative detection of pathogenic viruses, such as norovirus and hepatitis A and E viruses.
This technology is distinguished by its ability to deal with complex food samples, including dairy products, seafood, juices, and fresh vegetables, while maintaining the accuracy of the results even in the presence of analysis inhibitors, which enhances the reliability of the tests and supports the control of food products traded locally and regionally. Tests are also carried out in accordance with the requirements of the international standard (ISO/IEC 17025), ensuring the highest levels of quality, efficiency and reliability in the accuracy of laboratory results.
In this context, Eng. Hind Mahmoud Ahmed, Director of the Dubai Central Laboratory Department at Dubai Municipality, confirmed that the new ViruGenetics laboratory comes within the initiative to launch specific specialized laboratories based on the latest international laboratory technologies, with the aim of enhancing the capabilities of advanced viral testing and keeping pace with future and urgent health challenges. Dubai Municipality is devoting its efforts and commitment to developing its laboratory capabilities, which reflects positively on the food safety system, enhances the protection of the health of the Dubai community, and raises the levels of the quality of life of the population.
She said: “The laboratory represents a qualitative strategic step in developing the capabilities of the Dubai Central Laboratory, as it allows rapid and accurate detection of food-related viruses using advanced genetic analysis techniques, which supports the food control system and contributes to protecting the health of the individual and society.”
She pointed out that this service enhances the municipality’s ability to make proactive decisions based on reliable and accurate scientific results and evidence, and contributes to raising the efficiency of the food inspection and control system, which reflects positively on the quality of life in the emirate.
The “ViruGenetics” laboratory constitutes a scientific platform that supports cooperation with universities and research centers, with the aim of developing a national database for food-borne viruses and enhancing research studies in this vital field. It also contributes to supporting the health security system by providing concerned authorities with accurate genetic data on viruses associated with the food chain, which allows proactive decisions to be made based on advanced and accurate scientific analysis.