The African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) plays a pivotal role in strengthening laboratory systems and diagnostics across Africa. With the growing demand for robust diagnostic networks, particularly in the face of global health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks, the 2024 ASLM Special Convention on Diagnostics convened key stakeholders to explore innovations, challenges, and strategies for scaling diagnostic systems across the continent. The convention, themed “Transforming Diagnostic Systems in Africa: Harnessing Innovation and Quality Assurance to Elevate Equity and Excellence,” brought together laboratory professionals, public health officials, researchers, and policymakers to address critical diagnostics and laboratory medicine needs, aligned with global health priorities such as Universal Health Coverage (UHC), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and emerging infectious diseases.