On 28 October 2021 this Extended ECHO session focused on neglected tropical disease laboratories, their potential to act as effective reference labs with effective implementation of robust quality management systems (QMS) including external quality assessment (EQA) programs. Presentations were made by Dr Andreas Gilsdorf, Head, German Epidemic Preparedness Team SEEG), German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and Dr Sascha Knauf, Head, Institute of International Animal Health/One Health, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Isle of Reims. They shared the current EDCTP-funded study that aims to validate a new nucleic amplification test (NAT) for the diagnosis of yaws infection, the general need for One Health-oriented cross-sectoral EQA programs and an overview of the LAMP4Yaws Project as a possible blueprint for other disease programs.