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Developing High Quality Laboratories

A lab technician checks blood samples at a national HIV and TB lab supported by PEPFAR and CDC.

What We Do

CDC works side by side with Ministries of Health and other partners to strengthen laboratories and build lab capacity in 50 countries hard hit by HIV, TB and other epidemics. As part of these efforts, CDC supports training and mentoring, lab strengthening and capacity-building, the development of lab infrastructure to help countries respond to current and emerging epidemics, the expansion of viral load testing and early infant diagnosis, and has helped transform the landscape for HIV and TB testing and diagnosis worldwide.

 

Why We Do It

Our efforts to control both HIV and TB have shown that an investment in laboratories is an investment in health. Strong national public health laboratories are essential for responding effectively to HIV, TB, and other diseases. Quality laboratories are crucial at every step in responding to these epidemics, from accurate testing; to effective treatment, care and monitoring of the disease; to the prevention of new infections. However, in many regions of the world, under-resourced systems can threaten effective prevention, care and treatment of HIV and TB.

 

Results

Through PEPFAR, and in collaboration with partners, CDC has:

  • Supported continuous quality improvement in over 700 laboratories in more than 40 countries across Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central and Latin America
  • Developed more than 16,500 HIV testing sites throughout the world and trained staff in over 480 laboratories in 23 countries
  • Established a five-year public-private partnership that improved lab technical skills and systems, streamlined testing and treatment, increased diagnostic accuracy, and improved lab safety and quality in African countries severely affected by HIV and TB
  • Supported countries to develop national strategic plans for laboratories to better support their response to HIV, TB and other diseases
  • Helped establish the African Society for Laboratory Medicine to guide and strengthen laboratory networks throughout Africa; and in collaboration with the World Health Organization and 12 African countries, helped launch Africa’s first lab accreditation preparedness program

 

For more information on building high quality labs, see below:

Strengthening Laboratory Services and Systems in the Caribbean Region

In the fight against HIV, globally, an investment in laboratories is an investment in life. However in many regions of the world, including parts of Africa , under-resourced systems can threaten effective prevention care and treatment of HIV.

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