Our laboratory expanded its accredited scope from five tests in 2021 to 19 tests and parameters in 2026.
We are pleased to announce that the Laboratory at St. John XXIII Hospital Aber has successfully completed its South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) accreditation reassessment, reaffirming our commitment to internationally recognized standards of laboratory quality and competence.
Our laboratory’s accredited scope has grown from five tests in 2021, when it first achieved accreditation, to 19 tests and parameters in 2026. This achievement reflects our continued commitment to strengthening diagnostic services and providing reliable laboratory results that support patient care.
For our patients and the communities, we serve, this means greater confidence in the quality of laboratory investigations used to guide diagnosis, treatment and clinical decisions.
What SANAS Accreditation Means for Our Patients
The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) is South Africa’s national accreditation body. It assesses medical laboratories against ISO 15189, the international standard for quality and competence in medical laboratories.
Accreditation evaluates every stage of the testing process:
- Pre-analytical: How samples are collected, received, identified and handled.
- Analytical: How tests are performed using appropriate procedures, calibrated equipment and quality-assured reagents.
- Post-analytical: How results are verified, reported and communicated to clinicians, including prompt communication of critical findings requiring urgent medical attention.
These requirements help us maintain reliable diagnostic services and support informed clinical decisions.
A Quality System We Practice Every Day
During the 2026 reassessment, the assessors recognized our laboratory team’s understanding and implementation of the quality management system. All previously identified findings were successfully closed.
Our commitment to quality is reflected in several daily practices:
- Immediate communication of critical results: Urgent results are communicated to the requesting wards through the hospital intercom and documented to ensure timely clinical action.
- Equipment maintenance and quality assurance: We undertake routine equipment servicing, preventive maintenance and quality control to support accurate and reliable results.
- Continuous feedback and improvement: Feedback from patients, clinicians and staff helps us improve communication, strengthen coordination and enhance service delivery.
These practices reinforce our commitment to maintaining high standards of laboratory quality and patient-centered care.
Our 19 Accredited Tests and Parameters
Our laboratory’s accredited scope covers diagnostic services across molecular testing, serology, parasitology, hematology and clinical chemistry.
Microbiology and Molecular Testing (4)
- GeneXpert MTB (Tuberculosis)
- GeneXpert HIV Viral Load
- GeneXpert HPV (Cervical Cancer Screening)
- GeneXpert EID (Early Infant Diagnosis for HIV-exposed infants)
Serology, Parasitology and Haematology (9)
- HIV Rapid Test
- Syphilis Test
- Serum Cryptococcal Antigen (CrAg)
- Urine TB-LAM
- TB Microscopy (Ziehl-Neelsen staining)
- Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg)
- Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT)
- Malaria Microscopy
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Clinical Chemistry (6)
Kidney Function Tests
- Urea
- Creatinine
Liver Function Tests
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
- Total Bilirubin
- Direct Bilirubin
These investigations support the diagnosis, monitoring and management of various health conditions, helping our clinicians make informed decisions about patient care.
Supporting Healthcare Beyond Aber
Our laboratory’s services extend beyond the patients we care for within the hospital. We also support other healthcare facilities through sample referral arrangements, including Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Lacor Hospital and lower-level health facilities across Oyam and parts of Kole District.
Through these services, we contribute to strengthening access to quality diagnostic investigations and supporting healthcare delivery across the region.
Looking Ahead
Building on this achievement, we plan to pursue SANAS accreditation for 12 additional tests selected from the wider range of investigations already performed by our laboratory but not yet included in its accredited scope. This will further expand the range of tests covered by our accreditation.
We also plan to establish point-of-care testing in major hospital units, bringing essential diagnostic services closer to patients and supporting timely clinical decisions.
We extend our sincere appreciation to the management of St. John XXIII Hospital Aber for its continued leadership, commitment and support in making this achievement possible. We also recognize our laboratory team for its professionalism, dedication and consistent efforts in maintaining high standards of quality.
As we continue to strengthen our diagnostic capacity and improve our services, we remain committed to providing reliable, quality and patient-centered healthcare to the communities we serve.
St. John XXIII Hospital Aber – Christian Care for Quality Health.
