By Patience Dabula,

LabVoice Issue 02

Across Africa, laboratories are central to disease detection, surveillance, and patient care. Yet for years, access to external quality assessment (EQA) has been constrained by high costs, logistical challenges, and reliance on donor-driven programs. Afri-EQA was created to change this reality.

Established under ASLM’s leadership, Afri-EQA is a regional, African-led EQA program designed to strengthen laboratory quality across the continent. The initiative prioritises local relevance, affordability, and sustainability, aligning EQA panels with Africa’s public health priorities and investing in African EQA providers.

Afri-EQA supports laboratories across multiple technical areas, including HIV diagnostics, SARS-CoV-2, Mpox, and sequencing. In parallel, it strengthens local providers toward ISO 17043 accreditation through audits, mentorship, and technical assistance. More than sample distribution, Afri-EQA functions as a quality improvement system—providing performance feedback, corrective action guidance, and opportunities for continuous learning. As an ASLM legacy initiative, Afri-EQA represents a transformative shift toward African ownership of laboratory quality systems.