The requirements needed to ensure safety, testing reliability and the provision of quality results from community-based HIV rapid testing sites include essential policies, structures, systems, procedures and responsibilities that underpin the operations of any community-based rapid testing site. These responsibilities must be undertaken by both the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Rapid Testing Site personnel.
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Diagnostics and Laboratory capacity are essential but often ignored pillars of both a responsive health system and effective global health security The Coronavirus pandemic has, more starkly than ever before, highlighted the critical importance of accurate, reliable and timely laboratory testing for diagnosis, patient care and management and understanding the scope of viral transmission, thereby
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August 2019 to January 2020 As CMLF strives to fulfil its vision as the regional champion for best practice in medical laboratory services, and specifically to improve quality and access to HIV and STI testing for KPs, we recognise as critical, the need to strengthen the managerial capacities of our organisation. In discussions with the
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“We have no doubt that CMLF has blazed the trail in providing the technical support required for ensuring lab-quality” MR. DERECK SPRINGER Director, PAN CARIBBEAN PARTNERSHIP AGAINST HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) – CARICOM “Because of your history and experience, you are specially poised to reach your key demographics, which actually propelled you to your success…your patience and persistence
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21 Jan COVID-19 | Other News | Updates & Emerging Issues PAHO calls for countries to prioritize rapid tests for those with COVID-19 symptoms With COVID-19 surging throughout the Americas and demand for diagnostics higher than ever, the Pan American Health Organization Director Carissa… Read more 14 Jan COVID-19 | Other News | Updates &
read more15 Feb CMLF News | Updates & Emerging Issues Meet Dr. Farley R. Cleghorn – MD, MPH Dr Farley Cleghorn says: The only way to end the pandemic and to return to some semblance of normalcy is… Read more 11 Feb CMLF News | Updates & Emerging Issues Video Series on HIV Self-testing PART 1 –
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Across the Continuum of HIV Services for Key Populations (April 2018 to September 2018) The LINKAGES project helps countries to use evidence‐based approaches to make comprehensive HIV services easily available to key populations (KP) and to sustain those services. Family Health International (FHI) 360 and its partners will provide overarching technical leadership in KP programming
read moreAcknowledgement The ‘Strengthening of Medical Laboratory Services in the Caribbean’ (SMLS) Project, would like to thank The Health Protection Agency, England, for the knowledge and expertise of their staff and working groups in the UK, who develop National Standard Methods, on which the Caribbean Regional Microbiology Standard Operating Procedures are based. Many thanks also to
read moreThe goal of this component was to foster a climate of evidence-based decision-making through encouraging management trainees to initiate simple research projects and through conducting operational research agreed with key stakeholders and generating data relevant to the improvement of laboratory management and operations. The major achievements of this component included conduct of several studies. These
read moreCriteria to be met by reference node laboratories (based on WHO HIV Drug Resistance reference lab model) Complete laboratory infrastructure and equipment to support the testing function(s) Space (meeting required safety standards) Equipment Consistent supply of reagents (inventory control) Regionally recognised experience and leadership in the specific area Laboratory experience in the specific area (>3 years,
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