NRL has been a WHO Collaborating Centre for Diagnostics and Laboratory Support for HIV/AIDS and Other Blood-borne Infections (AUS-45) since October 1985, being one of the first post-HIV institutions designated. Our terms of reference are
- To support WHO’s work towards building capacities for laboratory and health care staff in the area of quality assurance, monitoring proficiency through External Quality Assessment Schemes (EQAS) and quality management systems of testing services for WHO priority diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HTLV-1, Syphilis and new or re-emerging diseases such as COVID-19.
- At WHO’s request hold and maintain repositories of relevant specimens for the laboratory assessment of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HTLV-1, syphilis and COVID-19 diagnostics technologies, in order to inform WHO prequalification activities.
- When requested by WHO, to provide laboratory support on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, HTLV-1 and other blood borne infectious diseases, and technical input on the performance of related in-vitro diagnostics, in order to inform WHO’s work on the subject matter
By definition, a WHO Collaborating Centre is an institution designated by the Director-General of WHO to form part of an international collaborative network set up by WHO in support of its programme at the country, intercountry, regional, interregional and global levels. In line with the WHO policy and strategy of technical cooperation, a WHO Collaborating Centre also participates in the strengthening of country resources, in terms of information, services, research and training, in support of national health development. Each year, NRL submits a work plan to the WHO responsible officer, detailing its commitment to strengthening member countries’ activities. Generally, NRL provides in-kind support to public health laboratories in the Asia Pacific region and commits time and resources to support WHO activities. NRL staff provide advice to WHO and actively collaborates in the development of guidance documents relating to laboratory quality and blood safety.
NRL was a founding member of the Australian Network of WHO Collaborating Centres and the Director of NRL serves on the executive of this organisation. Australia has one of the largest number of WHO Collaborating Centres in the world.
Impact
WHO Collaborating Centers are critical to the operations of WHO and provide cost-effective cooperation mechanism, which enables the Organization to fulfill its mandated activities and to harness resources far exceeding its own. NRL’s involvement with WHO is diverse and active throughout each year and allows NRL to contribute to the strengthening of testing for infectious diseases in the Asia Pacific and beyond.
Training: Our Scientific Consulting & Training projects
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Overview
The scientific consulting staff at NRL have provided invaluable support for laboratory capacity assessment and enhancement programs for several decades. Collaborating closely with the World Health Organization’s Regional Offices in Southeast Asia (SEARO) and the Western Pacific (WPRO), NRL has assisted national public health laboratories in developing robust quality management systems, implementing external quality assessment schemes, and delivering training in various technical, quality, and safety domains. NRL-supported WHO initiatives that have been conducted in Mongolia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Cambodia and India, further contributing to the strengthening of public health infrastructure in these regions.
ImpactThe activities of the NRL Scientific Consulting and Training Team are focused on enhancing the quality of testing for infectious diseases, in alignment with the NRL mission statement. These initiatives are tailored to the local infrastructure and resources, ensuring they are culturally sensitive and sustainable. Whenever feasible, NRL establishes mentoring relationships with trainees to support their ongoing quality improvement efforts. This approach enables laboratories and their personnel to continuously refine their processes, ultimately resulting in more accurate test results and improved health outcomes for patients.Snapshots from Our Training Sessions 📸
Prequalification: Our Evaluation's Projects
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Overview
NRL has been a WHO Performance Prequalification Evaluation Laboratory since July 2017 and are authorised to evaluate IVDs for:
- HBV antigen/serology
- HBV NAT
- Syphilis serology
- HIV serology
- HCV serology
- HCV NAT
In 2024, NRL added SAR-CoV-2 antigen and NAT to the analytes tested. Over the past decade, NRL has contributed to the assessment of numbers of IVD on behalf of WHO Prequalification group including rapid test devices /lateral flow devices through to automated serology and molecular tests. NRL staff have also been involved in the drafting and review of evaluations protocols and the assessment of technical dossiers.
ImpactMany countries, particularly those with low- and middle-income economies, often lack a robust regulatory framework and a dedicated authority to oversee the administration of diagnostic tests for infectious and other high-priority diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides an independent and comprehensive evaluation of test kits for key diseases, including HIV, malaria, hepatitis B and C, as well as syphilis, HPV, and CD4 counts. National Ministries of Health and funding bodies such as the Global Fund rely on the WHO’s prequalification list to identify test kits that have undergone rigorous validation through the prequalification process. This approach facilitates more informed selection of diagnostic tools, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes.
Want to Learn More?
List of WHO-prequalified In Vitro Diagnostic products
List of PQx test kits
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Page last updated: 28 November 2024