Achieving, maintaining and improving accuracy, timeliness, and reliability remains a major challenge for laboratories responding to global health threats. Diseases such as Ebola, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, and HIV require a strong and sustained commitment to building capacity for detection, response and research.

Here, we aim to share essential resources, guidelines and references on Laboratory Quality Management System (LQMS). These are critical for ensuring high-quality laboratory responses to both public health emergencies and ongoing research.

Effective quality management and robust laboratory systems are the foundation for generating reliable data that not only meets the standards of the international community but also earns the confidence of local clinicians, researchers, and public health professionals. Trust, both global and local, depends on consistent, high-quality laboratory performance.

Implementation of Quality Management Systems in a Laboratory would:

  • increase efficiency and consistency.
  • support better decision-making.
  • enhance the quality of generated data and documentation.
  • improve relationships among researchers, collaborators, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders.
  • contribute to effective management and strengthen both internal and external control.

Resources

  • WHO - Laboratory Quality Management Read more
  • Laboratory quality management system: Handbook by WHO (Published 2011)
  • African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) QMS e-Learning
  • Next Generation Sequencing (NGS): QMS Tools and Resources by CDC Read more