NHLDS ends August with Major Accreditation Milestones

The month of August was both busy and rewarding for the National Health Laboratory & Diagnostic Services (NHLDS), with multiple laboratories successfully completing accreditation assessments and sustaining international recognition.

1. NMRL retains CAP accreditation

The National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL) once again demonstrated its commitment to excellence by maintaining its College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation. This reaffirms NMRL’s ability to deliver quality diagnostics in line with global best practices.

2. CERSL recommended for ISO 15189 accreditation

The Central Public Health Laboratories – CERSL, both its main and mobile laboratories, were recommended for ISO 15189 accreditation for eight testing scopes including;

• Ebola

• Marburg

• Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

• Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF)

• Yellow Fever

• Monkeypox

• COVID-19

This milestone underscores Uganda’s preparedness to detect and respond to priority epidemic-prone diseases.

3. Regional and District Hospital Labs sustain SANAS accreditation

Several hospital laboratories across the country successfully retained their South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) accreditations notably;

• Mubende Regional Referral Hospital (RRH)

• Kisubi Hospital

• Mukono Hospital

• Kawempe National Referral Hospital (NRH)

• Kiruddu NRH

• Butabika NRH among others.

These collective achievements highlight NHLDS’s strong commitment to ensuring quality, reliable, and sustainable diagnostic services for the people of Uganda. Accreditation not only strengthens the country’s health system but also builds trust in laboratory results, which are critical for patient care, disease surveillance, and outbreak response.

Congratulations to the teams and management of NHLDS.