Riga, Latvia, 29 Jan 2021 — Latvia-based biotech company MGI Latvia and its construction partner APB have begun production of the Automated & Integrated Container Laboratory — a fully equipped mobile testing lab built inside a 12-meter shipping container and capable of processing up to 3,000 samples per day.
The container lab houses MGI’s automation systems, enabling technicians to carry out COVID-19 testing with speed and consistency. The unit is divided into three core zones: reagent storage and preparation, sample processing, and final testing. As a Biosafety Level 2 facility, it includes advanced ventilation for proper air exchange, pressure control, and sterilization.
Automation sharply reduces the infection risk for technicians. The integrated workflow handles sample scanning, transfer, and viral RNA extraction — the essential steps before testing for COVID-19. With this system, just three technicians can manage the full process, compared with the dozens normally required to handle the same daily volume.
The mobile lab is aimed at export markets where demand for rapid, scalable testing remains high. The first locally produced unit has already been delivered to a client in Sweden, with further interest expected from other EU member states. MGI Latvia also notes its readiness to provide units locally if requested by national authorities.
“The container lab can be installed in a few hours anywhere increased testing capacity is needed. Only three technicians are required to run it, which is crucial when qualified staff are limited,” said Rolando Huapaija-Delgado, Business Development Manager at MGI Latvia.
While sample collection must still be done manually, the container lab accelerates the entire testing pipeline. It is especially valuable for mass-testing scenarios, such as airports or regions where samples would otherwise be transported long distances for analysis. Faster local processing shortens turnaround times and strengthens outbreak control.
Inside the lab, reagents are prepared and stored in the first zone. In the second, technicians scan and load samples into the automated MGI workflow, which can process nearly 200 samples in 40 minutes. Final testing is completed in the third zone, confirming the presence or absence of the virus.
This mobile, automated approach delivers high throughput, reduced manual handling, and rapid deployment — a practical solution for meeting large-scale testing needs.
