Dr. Jiří Černý is a co-author and CRO of CZU mobiLAB Solutions s.r.o., a modular laboratory designed to enable high-precision RT-qPCR analysis directly in field and remote locations. In this interview, he introduces the idea behind mobiLAB, explains the challenges it aims to address and discusses its potential applications in infectious disease research, surveillance and other field-based activities.

What is CZU mobiLAB 2.0? CZU mobiLAB 2.0 is a modular, mobile molecular-biology laboratory equipped with the latest technology for real-time, on-site analysis, including RT-qPCR, one of the most precise tools in modern molecular diagnostics. This means that whether you’re testing for pathogens, analysing environmental samples, or working in veterinary or medical diagnostics, mobiLAB 2.0 lets you conduct your work directly in the field with the speed and accuracy that previously only a high-tech laboratory could provide.

CZU mobiLAB (developed at Czech University of Life Sciences Prague) represents a complex solution that enables the application of state-of-the-art molecular detection methods in remote or inaccessible areas. The principal advantage of the proposed solution is the concept of a mobile laboratory, which is unique in terms of its size and weight. It can be transported in an SUV/off-road vehicle, by animal force, or can be even carried by humans, which is crucial in inaccessible areas. The essential facilities are provided in an inflatable tent. The laboratory itself is equipped with a generator that provides electricity and by essential machines, which enable pathogen detection by methods of molecular biology (PCR, LAMP, etc.).