International Accreditation for Improving Medical Laboratories in Sudan, Dr. A. Elbireer

Dr. A. Elbireer

International Aids Vaccine Initiative (Lavi)

United Kingdom

Purpose: Medical facilities and laboratories are essential and a fundamental part of all health systems. Laboratories influence the decision-making mechanism in the management of patients as well as disease prevention and control.

Approach: Accreditation is a procedure by which an authoritative body gives formal recognition that a laboratory and its staff is competent to carry out specific laboratory testing tasks.It is a validation process established to ensure that medical laboratories deliver high quality services that meet the needs and requirements of their clients.

Findings: Medical laboratories in Sudan are not internationally accredited. working with partners, the world Health Organization (WHO) in the African region developed a step-wise approach towards the accreditation of health laboratories in the African region, commonly referred to as the Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) programme. The SLIPTA programme provides a framework for strengthening national laboratory services towards fulfilment of the ISO 15189 standard.

Practical Implications: To adopt SLIPTA in Sudan, and intensify the roll out of the Strengthening Laboratory Management Towards Accreditation (SLMTA) programme as prerequisite laboratory quality capacity building.