News Articles

Broadens access to HIV viral load monitoring On July 20, 2017, Cepheid received World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification for its Xpert® HIV-1 Viral Load (VL) test. The Xpert® HIV-1 VL test measures Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA in human plasma from individuals infected with HIV-1 in less than 90 minutes. Measurement of blood… Read More

Increases in urbanization and the movement of people at national and international levels have led to increased risk for disease outbreaks, bioterrorism and other health emergencies of global concern. Globalization means shared threats, therefore, biosafety and biosecurity concerns have become global priorities for addressing health-related and economic safety [1]. In order to help address this… Read More

The African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) participated in a two-day meeting to review the state of HIV viral load testing and early infant diagnosis in Ethiopia. The meeting took place in Addis Ababa from 14 July to 15 July 2017 and was attended by representatives from across Ethiopia. The workshop brought together over 65… Read More

ASLM 2017 Strategic Planning Retreat The African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) held a strategic planning retreat in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 26 June to 29 June 2017. Since it was launched 6 years ago, ASLM has grown in expertise and visibility, and has transitioned from a lean core team at the headquarters in Addis… Read More

Information and data about laboratory capacity and locations across countries in Africa are largely difficult to access, out of date, or incomplete. This causes many challenges in enhancing laboratory network capacity for improved patient testing and support of public health needs. As such, the mapping of laboratory capacity across the continent has been identified as… Read More

By all accounts, Clara Doe Mvogo – a medical technologist by profession –  is not only the Mayor of the city of Monrovia, Liberia, she is also one of its heroes. Just as Mrs. Mvogo was taking office in March 2014, the beginnings of the Ebola epidemic were taking root in rural areas of the… Read More

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that a global influenza (flu) pandemic remains a real threat.[1] Many countries around the world are still ill-prepared to tackle a flu pandemic, including many countries in Africa. Furthermore, there have been recent Avian flu outbreaks reported in poultry farms and wild flocks across Africa, and there is great… Read More

The African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) joins The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) in celebrating Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (MLPW), or “Lab Week”, 23-29 April 2017. Now in its 42nd year, Lab Week presents an opportunity for laboratory professionals to raise awareness about the importance and critical contributions to public health made… Read More

World Malaria Day 2016: Significant Gains, Closing the Gaps Malaria is no longer the leading cause of death among children in sub-Saharan Africa and the proportion of children infected with malaria parasites has been cut in half in endemic areas of Africa since 2000. [1] Across the continent, the prevention of new cases of malaria… Read More

Preventing, Detecting, and Responding: Moving the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Forward in Africa An Interview with US Ambassador and GHSA Champion Dr. Bonnie Jenkins Since shortly after being nominated by President Barack Obama in 2009, Bonnie D. Jenkins, PhD, has served as the Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs at the US Department of State…. Read More