Due to structural damage, decimation of skilled laboratory staff, and loss of critical supplies, laboratory capabilities after 26 December were essentially nil in Banda Aceh, the city centre of Aceh Province. On 15 January 2005, staff from NIHRD and NAMRU-2 were jointly given the task of establishing a reference laboratory on the grounds of the Aceh provincial health laboratory unit (Labkesda Aceh) in response to the direct need for laboratory resources. This reference laboratory, known as L3, was funded by USAID.