RRMLs provide critical laboratory diagnostic support in crisis situations and are an important asset of the global health emergency workforce as part of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) global strategic group for Diagnostic Surge Capacities (DiSC). Minimum Operational Standards and a Typology (MOST) for RRMLs were designed to provide rapid and quality operational response tailored to the needs of affected communities, and to integrate RRMLs into existing coordination and response structures in emergencies.

An Interregional Field Simulation Exercise (IFX) Program was launched to assess applicability, feasibility, and comprehensiveness of MOST standards. The program also aimed to define recommendations aimed at strengthening coordination and interoperability of RRMLs with a wide range of operational partners.

Expanding upon an initial table-top exercise in Germany (May 2023), two full-scale field exercises of increasing complexity were conducted in Türkiye (June 2023) and Georgia (February 2024) uniting over 200 partners from all WHO regions. This collaborative effort has informed the finalization of the MOST, the update of the RRML typology.

As a result of the IFX implementation a comprehensive and applicable set of standards was agreed and endorsed by the RRML community of practice, supporting both a quality response and seamless integration of RRMLs into operations of the global health emergency corps.

This study underlines the benefit of field simulation exercises for the development of standards aimed at strengthening quality response, interoperability, and coordination in complex humanitarian settings through testing them in realistic and safe environment by a wide range of operational partners.