The African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) is a pan-African organisation committed to achieving a healthier Africa by increasing access to quality laboratory services for all. Since our founding in 2011, we have worked with global, regional, and country stakeholders to strengthen laboratory and diagnostic services and networks, and to ensure that country needs and priorities are reflected in the global laboratory and diagnostic agenda.
It is widely recognized that strong laboratory systems are an essential component of sustainable health systems. Clinical laboratory tests have an immeasurable impact on diagnostic and treatment decisions made by health care providers and are known to improve treatment outcomes for patients. However, in Africa there are still significant barriers to consistent laboratory testing. ASLM plays a key role in guiding the African region to optimize its laboratory systems. This includes providing better linkages, standardisation, and operating systems between existing laboratories, and strengthening local cadres of qualified laboratory professionals capable of conducting disease surveillance, responding to health emergencies, and effectively contributing to patient care at every level of the laboratory network.