As countries expand HIV treatment and care, the need for a robust and efficient laboratory services sector becomes critical in securing epidemic control. PEPFAR has underscored the need to build effective public health laboratory networks as a cornerstone of a strong response to HIV/AIDS treatment.
Ciheb has been a key partner in providing laboratory service technical assistance to ministries of health in a number of African countries, primarily for HIV and tuberculosis but also for infectious disease outbreaks. The technical assistance focuses on laboratory services management and involves evaluating new diagnostic technologies, championing the incorporation of point-of-care services, and providing and maintaining a full complement of key diagnostic equipment.
Ciheb provides mentorship and supportive supervision for improving quality of test results, strengthens laboratory quality towards accreditation, and supports the scaling up of biosafety systems. Ciheb is also focused on utilizing laboratory strategic information to inform program and patient prioritization, implementing quality management systems through mentorship, and supporting external quality assurance testing (tuberculosis microscopy, GeneXpert, CD4, HIV reverse transcriptase). Ciheb has successfully established and supported networks of labs through large CDC-funded lab programs in Haiti, Nigeria, and Kenya, and has started lab strengthening programs in Mozambique and Malawi.
