Muscat: Built on an area of 18,155 square metres at an estimated cost of RO 18.2 million, the state-of-the-art facility is equipped with the latest technologies and advanced laboratory systems. The project was established under the directives of His Majesty to keep pace with technological advancements and ensure readiness to meet health needs under all circumstances.
The Central Public Health Laboratory will function as a specialised national and regional reference centre, offering advanced diagnostic and laboratory analysis services in virology, bacteriology, chemistry, toxicology, genetic sequencing and bioinformatics. It will play a key role in epidemiological surveillance, outbreak detection and epidemic response, strengthening Oman’s capacity to address public health emergencies.
Designed to meet the highest international biosafety standards, the facility includes laboratories operating at Biosafety Levels 2 and 3 to manage high-risk pathogens safely. The three-storey building also houses a lecture hall, library, meeting rooms, training laboratories and advanced administrative offices to support professional development and capacity building for health personnel.
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The laboratory will support disease prevention and control programmes, conduct reference and specialised testing, standardise laboratory practices, and enhance food and environmental health monitoring. Its mandate also includes testing for pulmonary and non-pulmonary tuberculosis, foodborne and waterborne diseases, and serving as a reference centre for expatriate worker health screenings.
In addition, the laboratory is Oman’s national centre for antibiotic resistance, oversees malaria quality control systems, and develops national quality assurance programmes for government and private laboratories. It will also lead training initiatives for laboratory professionals, university students, resident physicians and health science graduates, while contributing to public health research and studies.
Recognised as one of the leading reference centres in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, the Central Public Health Laboratory undertakes regional responsibilities approved by the World Health Organization, including influenza, polio, measles and rubella surveillance, and participation in the PulseNet Middle East network. It also serves as a WHO collaborating centre for emerging and re-emerging diseases.
