With the belief that safe laboratories and zero laboratory-acquired infections can only be achieved through collaborations across different departments in the institution, The BioRisk Association of the Philippines, Inc. (BRAP) has designed a writeshop in developing what has been deemed as the “bible” of laboratories.

Last September 8, 2018, the laboratory biosafety manual writeshop, spearheaded by BRAP Founding President Dr. Miguel Martin N. Moreno II, was conducted at the Jecsons Medical Center in Tarlac City, Tarlac, under the auspices of the PAMET Tarlac Chapter, led by its president Ms. Narcisa Agustin, as part of their free CPD series.

This seminar–writeshop could not be any more than timely. As what Dr. Moreno would like to always emphasize and, maybe, what has been the mantra for this event, “it is better to have one ready, rather than need one and not have it at all.” More than 40 participants who are laboratory workers from local government and private institutions attended the writeshop.

The writeshop kicked off with a short yet informative lecture about plagiarism. Then a review of basic biosafety, biosecurity and biorisk management was delivered as these topics will be a pertinent part in their laboratory biosafety manual. Moving on to the gist of manual writing, the participants were taught on how to write policies, standards, guidelines and work instructions or the standard operating procedures (SOPs) using the CWA15793:2011 as the major reference. Later on, Dr. Moreno lectured about what should comprise the table of contents of the manual and about proper referencing using the APA manual. This topic would conclude the entire writeshop, with numerous fun activities in between to make the participants understand more and feel what it is like starting a laboratory manual.

During lunchtime, Dr. Moreno asked who the new officers were. Surprisingly, they did not hold their elections yet. This stimulated the PAMET Tarlac Chapter to conduct their election for its new set of officers. The election was initially supervised by Dr. Moreno as an outside electoral body and later on gave the floor to the re-elected president. The members unanimously re-elected Ms. Narcisa Agustin as their president.

BRAP would like to thank the PAMET Tarlac Chapter for the invitation to conduct the writeshop. We hope that this opportunity will gain more traction in the months to come.

For PAMET Chapters who have commenced writing their own Laboratory Biosafety Manual, go to the instructions below to access the reference folder discussed
during your session.

PAMET Ilocos Norte Chapter

PAMET ZdS Pagadian Chapter

PAMET Olongapo Zambales Chapter

PAMET National Capital Region

PAMET Albay Chapter

PAMET Zamboanga ChapterPAMET Laguna ChapterPAMET Davao Del Sur Digos Chapter
PAMET Batangas Chapter
PAMET Bulacan Chapter (Malolos)
PAMET Bulacan Chapter (Pulilan)

PAMET Socksargen Chapter

Get your individual password from Dr.Moreno via email bioriskassociationphilippines@gmail.com.

You will have three days to download the materials.

The Philippine Association of Medical Technologists, Inc. (PAMET) Bulacan Chapter in cooperation with the BioRisk Association of the Philippines, Inc. (2015) (BRAP) has recently concluded the Writeshop on Laboratory Biosafety Manual last August 4 in Malolos, and August 5, 2018 in Pulilan, Bulacan. Massive hat-tip to PAMET Bulacan Chapter officers for being thoughtful and considerate, conducting the same event in two different strategic locations to bring the workshop closer to their members.

Rumor has it that the Department of Health (DOH) has already started looking for the laboratory biosafety manuals in a few laboratory in the country, proven true by some Bulakeños. While the laboratory biosafety manual is not (yet) a

Dr. Miguel Martin N. Moreno

requirement from the DOH, “it is better to have one and not need it, rather than need one and not have it at all” as what Dr. Miguel Martin N. Moreno, BRAP Founding President and guest lecturer, would like to say.

An estimate of more than 80 participants for both locations attended the writeshop, others hailing from neighboring places like Manila, Pampanga, Tarlac and all the way from Batangas.

Dr. Moreno opened the writeshop with a lecture about plagiarism, in which he showed how not to commit plagiarism by following a technique that Dr. Moreno coined— the strategy of Quote, Paraphase or Summarize aka. “QPS”.

After this lecture about plagiarism, he delivered a review on basic biosafety, biosecurity and biorisk management, which should also be included in laboratory biosafety manual. Moreover, and on to the gist of the writeshop, he taught the would be authors of their laboratory biosafety manuals how to write policy, standards, guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) or work instructions. These last two lectures were the chunk of the laboratory manual, so Dr. Moreno made sure the participants understood by having group activities in between topics to help them familiarize themselves in writing

their own laboratory biosafety manual for their institution.

To make it more easier for them start writing their manuals, he gave a sample of a table of contents of a laboratory biosafety manual that can serve as their template and guide.

Last but not the least, Dr. Moreno taught the participants proper referencing using the APA and how important it is to properly cite references to avoid plagiarism.

BRAP would like to thank PAMET Bulacan Chapter, led by Prof. Edison Ramos, for partnering with BRAP to hold this writeshop. BRAP would also like to thank the PAMET Bulacan Chapter officers for helping encourage their members to join BRAP and become a member. This helped BRAP reach its 400th members to date! We are really grateful to all of you!

With Pulilan participants.

With Malolos participants.

Note: Photos courtesy of Dr. Miguel Martin N. Moreno and Mr. Edison Ramos.