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In support of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals and the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health’ s( MoHCC) five-year VL Scale-up Plan, APHL works with VL laboratories to increase their capacity for testing and equipment utilization. It supports the expansion and strengthening of VL specimen referral and transport systems, collaborates with other MoHCC partners to create demand for routine VL testing and provides equipment to MoHCC for processing of DBS dried specimens. Funded through PEPFAR, specific activities include:

• Procurement of six high-throughput Roche VL / EID machines and their related ancillary equipment, provision of bundled comprehensive services and maintenance of equipment and laboratory refurbishment for VL laboratories

• Procurement of specimen collection materials, including tubes, needles and request forms

• Procurement of VL testing reagents and consumables, including PPE

• Collaboration with clinical partners to educate clinicians and increase demand and mobilization through trainings, site visits, VL technical working group meetings and provision of job aides for referring clinics

• Strengthen specimen / results transport system and referral network through a hub-and-spoke model

• Provision and support of mobile phones to provide prompt communication of high VL results to clinics

• Strengthen quality management systems through the WHO-Afro SLMTA-SLIPTA program implemented at VL laboratories and the specimen collection hubs with the support of resident APHL laboratory mentors

• Support MoHCC laboratory staff for shift work and work schedules outside usual working hours in order to increase VL testing surge capacity beyond the eight-hour capacity.

• Certify laboratory scientists in VL testing

• Support paper-based lab information system( LIS) with stationery supplies and laboratory registers, as well as supporting the roll-out of a MoHCC electronic LIS through the provision of computers, printers, printer cartridges and barcodes.

• Supporting VL External Quality Assurance for all 12 VL labs in Zimbabwe through the CDC-Atlanta VL proficiency testing program. n

For 50 years, using CLSI’ s library of standards has been the mosttrusted way to ensure proper testing and quality control— helping labs provide the highest quality results for their patients.

Learn more about how CLSI can help improve your lab, including resources to help you pass or maintain accreditation at clsi. org / 2018.