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Malaria remains one of the most significant global public health challenges, particularly in regions with limited healthcare resources. Accurate and timely diagnosis is critical for effective treatment and control of the disease. This bench-level training on malaria microscopy diagnosis is designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to identify and diagnose malaria using microscopy, the gold standard for malaria diagnosis.

The training program provides a comprehensive foundation in malaria microscopy, blending theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on experience. Participants will engage with key concepts and techniques essential for accurate diagnosis, emphasizing the role of microscopy in global malaria control efforts to address diagnostic challenges and support the broader mission of reducing the burden of malaria in affected communities.

Suite à la récente crise du Covid-19, le séquençage du génome complet du SARS-CoV-2 est devenu une compétence essentielle pour les professionnels de santé travaillant dans des laboratoires cliniques. Cette formation vise à fournir aux microbiologistes les compétences nécessaires pour utiliser la technologie MinION dans leur pratique quotidienne, afin d'améliorer la surveillance des maladies à potentiel épidémique et d'anticiper les menaces virales émergentes.

En combinant une compréhension approfondie de la biologie du virus avec une expertise pratique dans les techniques de séquençage, les participants seront mieux équipés pour relever les défis posés par les maladies infectieuses émergentes, et contribuer à une réponse globale plus efficace face aux pandémies futures.

External Quality Assessment (EQA) is a must for all laboratories engaged in QMS, certification, or accreditation. The increasing cost of International EQA – panel preparation, transportation, particularly for live microorganisms – has impacted the participation of laboratories. This has led to more countries looking at cost-effective national EQA to align with ISO requirements for clinical labs. 

A good alternative is the development of a national EQA program for bacteriology, serology, and PCR, as some examples, which would allow high-quality simulated specimens to be prepared within a well-documented program.

This workshop aims to develop policies and procedures for the national EQA program.

Hands-on experience and expert guidance are essential for ensuring quality control and alignment with ISO standards for EQA. External Quality Assessment (EQA) is a must for all laboratories engaged in QMS or accreditation.

The increasing cost of International EQA has impacted the participation of laboratories. This has led to more countries looking at cost-effective national EQA to align with ISO requirements for clinical laboratories.

Based on the outcomes of the National EQA program development workshop, this hands-on training will allow participants to prepare various simulated microbiological samples. They will receive all standard operating procedures, produce and ensure quality control on simulated samples such as stools, pus swabs, urine and some serology.

This three-part webinar series provides a comprehensive exploration of External Quality Assessment (EQA), guiding participants through its planning, implementation, and evaluation. Each session is designed to be interactive, featuring expert insights, real-world case studies, and practical tools to strengthen EQA programs.

This workshop aims to bring together human and veterinary laboratory specialists from the same country or from neighboring countries facing similar problems and challenges.

Through rigorous discussions, thorough analysis, and practical exercises, participants will gain valuable insights and develop strategic action plans focusing on four critical themes for successful lab system implementation:

• Coordination and regulations
• Reference laboratories
• Laboratory management
• QMS & EQA

The attendees will receive comprehensive documentation, procedures, and guidelines expediting the implementation process at the country level.

Recent global and local crises, including infectious diseases like Ebola and COVID-19, Dengue and non-infectious public health threats such as heavy metal poisoning, chemical plant accidents and nuclear power plant incidents have highlighted a consistent trend. The poor collaboration between laboratory and surveillance systems, spanning human and animal health, to consistently hinders the timely containment of severe outbreaks and major industrial incidents.

This workshop features five outbreak simulation exercises involving zoonotic aspects and a chemical pollution scenario highlighting the difficulties of recognizing a public health event of non-infectious origin. These thoughtfully crafted exercises serve a dual purpose: firstly, to provide to consortium of national specialists a mechanism to assess and enhance their preparedness for such crises, and secondly, to refine interdisciplinary teamwork and readiness protocols, thereby strengthening the overall response capacity.

Quality Management Systems (QMS) are essential for medical laboratories, playing a crucial role in ensuring precision, reliability, and patient safety during diagnostic procedures. Adhering to QMS, particularly in alignment with ISO standards, not only elevates the overall quality of laboratory operations but also promotes consistency and efficiency.

This level-1 training program is designed to equip medical lab professionals with essential skills and knowledge in maintaining and enhancing quality standards to enable laboratories to streamline processes, reduce errors, and consistently deliver trustworthy results, ultimately upholding the laboratory's integrity and ensuring the highest standards in patient care.