Laboratory service relocation: experience and lessons learned from relocating a biosafety level-3 clinical mycobacteriology service to a new facility.

Objectives: We recount our experiences of relocating an active mycobacteriology reference level service in Karachi, Pakistan, from an older accredited biosafety level-3 facility to a newly constructed and environmentally validated facility.

Methods: The service relocation planning, execution, and verification stages are described in detail.

Results: Lessons learned from our experience include establishing a service transfer plan, including relevant service staff, obtaining their buy-in on the plan, arranging backup service facilities or liaisons for the execution phase, and ensuring viable backup arrangements for troubleshooting during the verification phase of services in the new facility.