WHO/AFRO vCOP for Laboratory System Strengthening in the Context of COVID-19

The Laboratory System Strengthening Community of Practice Lab Virtual Community of Practice (Lab vCOP) aims to strengthen and transform laboratory services in the WHO Africa Region. Lab vCoP is a platform of peer-to-peer knowledge and experience exchange, where best practices and solutions can be identified and shared among countries at different levels of advancement of the their COVID-19 scale up program.

For more information, please reach out to moshas@who.int .

Objectives

• The dissemination and adoption of best practices through this multidisciplinary group of country representatives is anticipated to support the improvement of:

1. • COVID-19 diagnosis
   • Underlying laboratory systems
   • Patient clinical outcomes

The main objectives of Lab vCOP are supplemented by the following topic-specific objectives:

HIV Viral Load Testing and Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) Testing

• To orient the participating countries on the program by:

1. • Disseminating proficiency testing (PT) performance results and identify route course analysis
   • Priotizing the most promising areas for improvement that can advance the viral-load testing cascade and early infant diagnosis (EID) testing, as well as strengthen the underlying laboratory systems
   • Sharing country best practices

Viral Load Data Quality

• Disseminate the recommendations, approaches, and tools outlined in the joint 2020 WHO-UNAIDS-PEPFAR-Global fund data quality module for assessing and strengthen HIV viral load testing data
• Share country implementation experience in assessing and strengthening the use of HIV viral load testing data
• Engage partners to support the implementation of the recommended approaches outlined in the data quality module

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test User Training Workshop

• Ensure that health care and laboratory workers and trainers are equipped with the theoretical and practical knowledge to:

1. • Safely and accurately collect samples
   • Conduct SARS-CoV-2 Antigen RDT testing
   • Interpret and record results
   • Understand the implications of results for patient management
   • Effectively train other end users

The SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test User Training Workshop is offered in both English and French.

English: February 9-10, 2021 | February 23-24, 2021
French: February 10-11, 2021 | February 24-25, 2021

Target Audience

All 47 WHO AFRO Countries

Resources

• Link to Session Materials