Meeting the Needs of Laboratory Learners

Learning never ends in the laboratory—a fact that’s increasingly apparent as technological advancements accelerate, regulations change, and patient needs and demographics shift. To keep up, ongoing training is a necessity, but finding the right resources can be a challenge. In an effort to provide comprehensive, easily accessible resources, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed the OneLab initiative. This ever-evolving clinical laboratory learning system offers a range of free e-learning courses, customizable tools and job aids, and even a virtual reality (VR) learning environment to provide hands-on training laboratorians may not be able to obtain elsewhere.

The OneLab system

“The initiative gives laboratory and testing professionals free access to essential tools and resources to improve public health and patient outcomes,” says Joe Rothschild, Virtual Reality Team lead in the CDC’s Training and Workforce Development Branch. The goal: to drive better, faster, more reliable diagnostics in both routine work and unexpected situations such as public health emergencies. In addition to its training library, OneLab provides toolkits, customizable job resources, networking opportunities, and even an annual virtual meeting on lab education and training.

In total, the OneLab system includes seven components, all of which are free to participants:

• OneLab REACH (Rapid Education and Capacity-building Hub): the program’s learning hub, which enables access to all of its components, houses its e-learning courses, and allows learners to log Professional Acknowledgment for Continuing Education (P.A.C.E.®) contact hours.
• OneLab Network: a virtual community that connects laboratorians with one another and with CDC experts who create new content to meet training needs.
• OneLab VR: a 50,000-square-foot virtual facility that contains 12 different laboratories in which learners can participate in five- to 10-minute virtual reality (VR) training scenarios or join live learning sessions.
• OneLab Resources: free online job aids and toolkits for lab and testing professionals, including video resources, customizable tools, and printable supports.
• OneLab TEST (Timely Education and Support of Testers): resources and networking for people who offer testing at non-laboratory sites.
• OneLab Assessments: these investigate lab professionals’ training needs and inform the resources the CDC develops for OneLab.
• OneLab Summit: an annual three-day online symposium with expert speakers, networking sessions, and a virtual exhibit hall with booths and posters.

Widening the training net

At the moment, the CDC’s Training and Workforce Development Branch reports that the most popular topics among lab learners relate to safety and risk assessment—for instance, courses that tackle biosafety basics¹ or the safe packaging and shipping of dangerous goods.² The program’s VR offerings are also popular. “This learning modality expands upon traditional training where knowledge and skills are obtained by seeing, hearing, or observing,” a spokesperson from the branch explains. “OneLab VR is an excellent tool for the next generation of the laboratory workforce because it offers a variety of skill types at once—soft, technical, and procedural.”

Not every laboratory can afford high-tech training, so the CDC aims to make its programs as accessible as possible. Most of its resources require only a device and an internet connection, but without a VR headset, it’s not possible to participate in OneLab VR scenarios. To expand access, the CDC’s VR-Ready Laboratories program provides a limited number of headsets to public health laboratories, educational programs within clinical laboratories, and academic laboratories.³ Rothschild encourages eligible laboratories to apply for the program, which also assists with setup, configuration, and training logistics.

“Training and engagement are ongoing efforts for OneLab,” the Training and Workforce Development Branch noted. “We really value hearing from our members, who tell us which resources have been most helpful, what types of training and educational materials and resources best meet their needs, and in which formats. We want to continue to evolve and adapt to make sure what we offer aligns with what our members say they need the most.”

Missing links

Where do laboratories’ training gaps lie—and how is OneLab addressing them?

The program’s training needs assessments⁴ show that individual contributors in the lab most value technical education on topics such as selecting and validating tests, understanding regulations and guidelines, and general laboratory safety and risk assessment. Leaders and managers expressed a need for better training in laboratory operations and supply chain management—especially in emergency situations—as well as skills like leadership and communication. Across all roles and levels, people wanted to know more about collaborating with other teams and conveying scientific and medical information to the public.

Many laboratorians also faced difficulty finding and completing the training they needed. With learning resources spread across a range of in-house opportunities, professional organizations, commercial providers, and grassroots initiatives, identifying approved training that covers the necessary information can be a challenge. Completing courses that are long, complex, or require long periods of time away from the bench is an even greater hurdle. The CDC hopes that the OneLab initiative will not only provide a centralized bank of essential training, but also connect experts who work in similar settings to one another so that they can share their knowledge.

“OneLab REACH users can join OneLab Network and OneLab TEST,” the Training and Workforce Development Branch explained. “Most OneLab Network members are responsible for education and training within clinical (including commercial) laboratories, public health laboratories, and clinical laboratory professional organizations. Most OneLab TEST members are professionals and volunteers who perform or coordinate testing at non-laboratory sites.” Users who don’t find what they need in the OneLab resource library can reach out to their peers with questions—or they can connect directly to CDC laboratory education experts to highlight needs gaps and suggest topics for future training. New courses, events, and even VR scenarios are added regularly.

“We want safer and more productive laboratories,” the Training and Workforce Development Branch said. “We want laboratory professionals to feel confident performing their jobs safely and efficiently to improve public health and patient care.”

References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fundamentals of Laboratory Safety. OneLab REACH. https://reach.cdc.gov/course/fundamentals-laboratory-safety.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Packing and Shipping Dangerous Goods: What the Laboratory Staff Must Know. OneLab REACH. https://reach.cdc.gov/course/packing-and-shipping-dangerous-goods-what-laboratory-staff-must-know.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. OneLab VR: VR-Ready Laboratories Program. OneLab REACH. https://reach.cdc.gov/onelabvr/vr-ready-laboratories-program.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Training Needs Assessment and Response. April 23, 2021. https://reach.cdc.gov/sites/default/files/2024-03/508_onelab_4-23-2021_meeting.pdf.