Assisting Laboratories in Countries Around the World

CLSI Partnerships staff and volunteers travel the globe to give laboratories the tools and training they need to succeed.

We are currently providing support programs to laboratories all over the world. While our Partnerships are always expanding support services to new areas, we have assisted or are currently providing programs to laboratories in the following locations:

Central Asia

CLSI’s technical assistance visits in Central Asia started in late 2010. In 2015, a total of 30 participants were trained as quality managers, representing both Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. In 2016, our work expanded into Uzbekistan. A series of laboratory assessor trainings were conducted. In 2017, technical support for the implementation of quality management systems (QMSs) and accreditation preparation was provided to the Republican AIDS Center and Institute of Virology.

Dominican Republic

The first CLSI/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-supported laboratory strengthening activities in the Western Hemisphere began in the Dominican Republic in 2016. Mentoring and training events are designed to support the CDC focus on improving the quality of viral load testing and HIV rapid testing. CLSI works with the National Reference Laboratory and five point-of-care laboratories throughout the country.

Ethiopia

In 2016, CLSI launched a new activity supporting a professional exchange between laboratories working toward accreditation and a lab that had achieved and maintained accreditation to ISO 15189. In 2016, representatives from CLSI-supported Ethiopia laboratories traveled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to visit the National Health Laboratory Quality Assurance and Training Center (NHLQATC). The NHLQATC was the first CLSI-supported laboratory in Tanzania to achieve international accreditation to ISO 15189.

India

CLSI’s Partnerships returned to South Asia in 2016, conducting laboratory strengthening activities in India. Continued programming supports the current WHO/CDC focus on improving the quality of viral load testing and HIV rapid testing.

Kazakhstan

In 2014, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development of Kazakhstan worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation to launch the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP). With the goal of establishing a network of modern labs that follow international laboratory standards and provide reliable and trustworthy results, the program focused on training laboratory managers how to implement a quality management system for their own facilities, while serving as mentors for improvement efforts at other laboratories. View our Kazakhstan Case Study.

Kenya

As of 2016, CLSI has assisted 10 laboratories in Kenya to work toward international accreditation. CLSI’s Partnerships set up a regional office in Nairobi, which offers support to the country activities. The office is managed by a laboratorian with extensive program management experience. This office coordinates and support the pool of local mentors with adequate resources. View our Kenya Case Study.

Mozambique

CLSI programming in Mozambique provides support to the Ministry of Health to develop, review, and revise key laboratory policy documents, ensuring compliance with current international recommendations and standards.

Namibia

In 2015, CLSI partnered with ASLM to conduct mentor training and QMS for laboratory managers’ workshops in Namibia. In 2016, CLSI in collaboration with African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), CDC Namibia, and Ministry of Health and Social Services revised the National Point of Care Guidelines for Namibia.

People’s Republic of China (PRC)

CLSI has a continuing role in supporting the PRC's steady improvement of the quality and capabilities of its medical laboratory infrastructure. The CLSI/PRC relationship aligns with CLSI’s nonprofit mission to develop clinical and laboratory practices and promote their use worldwide. Learn more about this partnership.

Tanzania

CLSI provides capacity building and technical assistance to laboratories in Tanzania by working in collaboration with the CDC and other organizations to ensure sustainable strengthening of national laboratory systems and assist in developing policies that align with the internationally recognized laboratory standards for medical laboratories. View our Tanzania Case Study.

Ukraine

Recent missions in the Ukraine have been conducted by CLSI and multiple partner organizations to evaluate current testing capabilities, infrastructure needs, QMS implementation, and human and financial resources. QMS workshops to target the gaps identified by the assessments are planned for 2017.

Vietnam

CLSI programming in Vietnam focuses on QMS training to laboratory staff, quality managers, and laboratory directors.

Zambia

Since 2010, CLSI’s Partnerships program has trained practicing laboratorians, quality officers, and managers to develop and implement QMSs in their laboratories, with the goal of accreditation preparedness.