Seeb – The Ministry of Health will inaugurate the Central Public Health Laboratory in Seeb, Muscat Governorate, on Monday, coinciding with the sixth anniversary of the accession of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the throne.
The project, developed at a cost of RO18.2 mn, covers an area of 18,155 sqm and is equipped with advanced laboratory technologies designed to meet national public health requirements and respond to emerging health challenges.
The laboratory was established in line with royal directives to strengthen national capabilities, keep pace with technological progress and ensure readiness under all circumstances, officials said.
It will operate as a specialised centre providing advanced diagnostic and analytical services in virology, bacteriology, chemistry, toxicology and genetic sequencing, while supporting epidemiological surveillance and outbreak response efforts.
Built to international biosafety standards, the facility includes laboratories operating at Biosafety Levels 2 and 3, allowing it to safely handle a wide range of biological risks. The building also includes modern administrative offices, training laboratories and a lecture hall to support workforce development.
The laboratory will serve as a national and regional reference centre, offering high-precision testing and supporting disease prevention and control programmes. It will also play a key role in strengthening national health security through an integrated diagnostic and surveillance system.
Among its responsibilities are reference testing, laboratory surveillance, standardisation of procedures, quality assurance, and support for environmental health and food safety. The facility will also contribute to health emergency preparedness and response.
The laboratory will conduct tests for pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis, foodborne and waterborne diseases, and act as a reference centre for screening expatriate workers. It is designated as the national centre for antimicrobial resistance and oversees quality control for malaria diagnosis, in addition to developing national quality assurance programmes for public and private laboratories.
In addition to diagnostic services, the laboratory will support public health research and provide specialised training for laboratory professionals. It will also contribute to the education of university students, resident physicians and graduates of health science programmes.
The Central Public Health Laboratory is recognised as a leading reference laboratory in the Eastern Mediterranean region. It carries out several regional functions accredited by the World Health Organization, including laboratories for influenza, polio, measles and rubella, and serves as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases.
The facility also participates in regional laboratory networks, including PulseNet Middle East, and supports member states through molecular diagnostics, genomic surveillance and capacity-building programmes.
The three-storey building houses specialised laboratories in newborn screening, bioinformatics and genetic sequencing, along with meeting rooms, a library and training facilities to support continuous professional development.
