This
was
highlighted
during
a
recent
visit
by
U.S.
Ambassador
Pamela
Tremont
to
Mpilo
Hospital’s
HIV
Laboratory,
which
has
now
earned
ISO
15189
accreditation,
marking
a
significant
achievement
in
its
compliance
with
international
standards.
ISO
15189
is
a
globally
recognised
certification
that
sets
the
benchmark
for
quality
and
competence
in
medical
laboratories.
It
ensures
that
such
facilities
provide
accurate
and
reliable
test
results,
meeting
the
highest
standards
of
healthcare
excellence.
During
her
visit,
Ambassador
Tremont
praised
the
long-standing
partnership
between
the
U.S.
and
Mpilo
Laboratory,
noting
that
the
collaboration,
which
began
seven
years
ago,
has
significantly
enhanced
the
lab’s
capabilities.
“We
are
very
proud
that
Mpilo
Lab
recently
achieved
ISO
15189
certification,
which
means
it
is
now
offering
world-class
laboratory
testing
for
the
people
of
Bulawayo,”
she
said.
“Supporting
health
services,
particularly
laboratories,
is
a
key
component
of
our
commitment
to
improving
the
lives
of
Zimbabweans.”
Tremont
also
emphasized
the
critical
role
of
viral
load
testing,
especially
for
patients
with
potentially
failing
HIV
treatments
or
for
infants
born
to
HIV-positive
mothers,
in
the
broader
goal
to
eliminate
HIV
as
a
public
health
crisis
by
2030.
“This
laboratory
conducts
over
10,000
viral
load
tests
monthly,
serving
around
95%
of
the
80,000
people
in
Bulawayo
who
need
this
test.
It’s
an
impressive
volume,
and
the
lab’s
ability
to
maintain
ISO
15189
accreditation
amidst
such
a
workload
is
commendable.”
Mpilo
Hospital’s
Chief
Medical
Officer,
Dr.
Narcisius
Dzvanga,
highlighted
the
laboratory’s
capacity
to
test
for
mother-to-child
transmission
of
HIV
and
its
advanced
technology.
“When
I
took
office,
we
had
just
received
brand-new,
state-of-the-art
equipment.
These
machines
can
process
over
10,000
specimens
a
month,
a
significant
upgrade
from
the
previous
machines,
which
could
only
handle
50
samples
per
day.”
Dr.
Dzvanga
further
explained
that
the
new
equipment
performs
the
work
of
ten
machines,
ensuring
both
speed
and
accuracy.
“The
ISO
certification
confirms
the
quality
of
results.
The
equipment
meets
international
standards,
with
test
results
that
are
reproducible
across
different
countries,
whether
in
South
Africa,
Botswana,
or
elsewhere.”
Raiva
Simbi,
Director
of
Laboratory
Services
in
Zimbabwe’s
Ministry
of
Health
and
Child
Care,
highlighted
the
adaptability
of
the
equipment
during
the
COVID-19
pandemic.
Originally
designed
for
HIV
testing,
the
machines
were
repurposed
to
handle
COVID-19
tests
and
are
now
being
used
for
other
purposes,
including
HPV
testing
and
potentially
for
hepatitis
and
MPOX
in
the
future.
“These
machines
are
incredibly
versatile.
With
advancements
in
IT,
you
can
even
load
samples
remotely,
and
the
machines
will
begin
processing
them,”
Simbi
said.
Simbi
added
that
similar
advanced
testing
capabilities
are
now
available
in
all
provincial
laboratories
across
Zimbabwe.
“We
call
it
real-time
PCR
testing.
While
originally
for
HIV,
these
machines
can
be
configured
to
test
for
multiple
viruses,
including
those
responsible
for
diseases
like
cervical
cancer
and
hepatitis.”