{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T08:30:19Z","timestamp":1792053019632,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":17,"publisher":"AOSIS","issue":"2","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Afr J Lab Med"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Internationally-accredited laboratories are recognised for their superior test reliability, operational performance, quality management and competence. In a bid to meet international quality standards, the Mozambique National Institute of Health enrolled the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) in a continuous quality improvement process towards ISO 15189 accreditation. Here, we describe the road map taken by the NTRL to achieve international accreditation.Methods: The NTRL adopted the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) programme as a strategy to implement a quality management system. After SLMTA, the Mozambique National Institute of Health committed to accelerate the NTRL\u2019s process toward accreditation. An action plan was designed to streamline the process. Quality indicators were defined to benchmark progress. Staff were trained to improve performance. Mentorship from an experienced assessor was provided. Fulfilment of accreditation standards was assessed by the Portuguese Accreditation Board.Results: Of the eight laboratories participating in SLMTA, the NTRL was the best-performing laboratory, achieving a 53.6% improvement over the SLMTA baseline conducted in February 2011 to the Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) assessment in June 2013. During the accreditation assessment in September 2014, 25 minor nonconformities were identified and addressed. In March 2015, the NTRL received Portuguese Accreditation Board recognition of technical competency for fluorescence smear microscopy, and solid and liquid culture. The NTRL is the first laboratory in Mozambique toachieve ISO 15189 accreditation.Conclusions: From our experience, accreditation was made possible by institutional commitment, strong laboratory leadership, staff motivation, adequate infrastructure and a comprehensive action plan.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4102\/ajlm.v6i2.491","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,4,1]],"date-time":"2017-04-01T13:49:34Z","timestamp":1491054574000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Mozambique\u2019s journey toward accreditation of the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory"],"prefix":"10.4102","volume":"6","author":[{"given":"Sofia O.","family":"Viegas","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Khalide","family":"Azam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carla","family":"Madeira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carmen","family":"Aguiar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carolina","family":"Dolores","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ana P.","family":"Mandlaze","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Patrina","family":"Chongo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jessina","family":"Masamha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniela M.","family":"Cirillo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ilesh V.","family":"Jani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eduardo S.","family":"Gudo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2580","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,3,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0001","author":"World Health Organization, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention","year":"2011","journal-title":"Laboratory quality management system: handbook"},{"key":"ref0002","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1086\/499363"},{"key":"ref0003","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1309\/AJCP03TFPBKEYYNT"},{"key":"ref0004","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1309\/AJCPTUUC2V1WJQBM"},{"key":"ref0005","author":"World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa","journal-title":"WHO guide for the Stepwise Laboratory Improvement Process Towards Accreditation in the African region [with checklist] [document on the Internet]"},{"key":"ref0006","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1309\/AJCPNBBL53FWUIQJ"},{"key":"ref0007","author":"Instituto Nacional de Saude","journal-title":"Instituto Nacional de Saude [homepage on the Internet]"},{"key":"ref0008","author":"World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa","year":"2013","journal-title":"[Orienta\u00e7\u00f5es da OMS para o Processo Gradual de Melhoria Laboratorial com Vista \u00e0 Acredita\u00e7\u00e3o na Regi\u00e3o Africana (com lista de verifica\u00e7\u00e3o)] [Portuguese]"},{"key":"ref0009","author":"World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa","journal-title":"WHO Guide for the Stepwise Laboratory Improvement Process Towards Accreditation in the African Region (with checklist) [document on the Internet]"},{"key":"ref0010","author":"Instituto Portugu\u00eas de Acredita\u00e7\u00e3o","journal-title":"Instituto Portugu\u00eas de Acredita\u00e7\u00e3o [homepage on the Internet]"},{"key":"ref0011","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1309\/AJCPH1SKQ1HNWGHF"},{"key":"ref0012","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1309\/AJCPDQOSB7QR5GLR"},{"key":"ref0013","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4102\/ajlm.v3i2.253"},{"key":"ref0014","author":"Global Laboratory Initiative","journal-title":"GLI stepwise process towards TB laboratory accreditation [page on the 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