The Africa Society for Laboratory Medicine is pleased to announce the publication of the article ‘Preparing national tiered laboratory systems and networks to advance diagnostics in Africa and meet the continent’s health agenda: Insights into priority areas for improvement’ in its scholarly journal, the African Journal of Laboratory Medicine. The article was developed and written in partnership with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and is available online for free.

Insufficient access to diagnostic testing is one of the major barriers to the achievement of Universal Health Coverage and the requirements of the International Health Regulations. Scale up of conventional or new diagnostic technologies is often viewed as the most logical and straight forward way to increase access to laboratory testing. While technology usually represents progress and mobilizes enthusiasm, laboratory systemic and network factors enabling the uptake of technology receive less attention.

To address this need, the African Society for Laboratory Medicine and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, presented their views on some of the most critical and enduring gaps of national laboratory systems and networks in a paper that has been published in the African Journal of Laboratory Medicine (AJLM). The paper highlights some priority areas of intervention that are critical to the robust uptake of diagnostic technology towards the achievement of the health goals of Africa.

Please read the full text here on the AJLM website.

Author: Dr Pascale Ondoa

Editor: Ms Bethanie Rammer

About ASLM

Established in 2011, the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) is a pan-African professional body focused on improving healthcare by strengthening all aspects of laboratories including workforce strengthening, quality improvement and accreditation, harmonization of regulations, strengthening of networks, and strengthening advocacy and communications. Laboratory testing is pivotal for disease diagnosis, epidemiological surveillance, outbreak investigation, and initiation and monitoring of treatment, as well as research and development. ASLM addresses these challenges by working collaboratively with governments; national, regional and international organizations; implementing partners, the private sector and other agencies to achieve its Strategic Vision goals. ASLM is endorsed by the African Union with support from the World Health Organization, Africa CDC, the US CDC, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the World Bank, the Clinton Foundation, UNAIDS, and others.