As access to quality and reliable medical laboratory testing is vital for patient care, diagnosis, treatment decisions, and even medical research, there is a need for laboratories and medical research institutions with testing facilities to seek accreditation according to international standards.
In line with WANETAM’s vision, the Laboratory Accreditation and Quality Assurance Training and Implementation (LAQTI) supports capacity strengthening efforts to empower laboratory and medical research institutions within the network to ensure quality and competence of laboratory services. This includes the meticulous auditing and evaluation of laboratories to consistently produce accurate and reliable results, maintain a high standard of quality management, and adhere to regulatory and legislative requirements, in order to secure ISO 15189 accreditation. This accreditation is specifically designed for medical laboratories and provides a comprehensive framework for quality management and competence.
Under WANETAM 2, the LAQTI group successfully coached the Centre for TB Reference Laboratory at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in Lagos, and the South-West Zonal TB Reference Laboratory at the University College Hospital of Ibadan, Nigeria to obtain ISO 15189:2012 accreditation.
As part of activities under WANETAM 3, Centre Muraz Laboratory (CMRL), Bacteriology laboratory at the Noguchi Institute of Medical Research in Ghana (NIMR), and Laboratoire National de Référence TB (LNR) in Lome, Togo are also being supported to obtain ISO 15189 accreditation.