Since 2018, the National Blood Transfusion Centre (CNTS), the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) and the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp have collaborated to study bacterial contamination of blood products intended for transfusion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): prevalence, risk analysis and prevention1-4. In December 2023, results were reported in […]
Category: General lab management
14 enthusiastic participants finished the 3-week field laboratory preparedness course
In December 2025, a group of 14 participants (biomedical scientists, bio-informatician, bio-engineer, and clinicians) took the field laboratory preparedness course at ITM. Over 3 weeks they learned to critically assess the set-up of a diagnostic laboratory in resource-limited settings and propose interventions to improve its organization, assure the quality, and to explore research opportunities. They […]
Field Laboratory Preparedness short course: enthusiastic students applied quality management principles for a low-resource setting laboratory
A total of 16 (bio)medical professionals completed the short course Laboratory Field Preparedness in December 2024. Through lectures, exercises, self-study, and face-to-face discussions, students learned about the organization of a district laboratory, basics of staff management, laboratory equipment, logistics, and key aspects of the pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic phases of laboratory analyses. During the course, […]
Hardy et al, 2024. Blood culture bottles remain efficient months after their expiration date: Implications for low- and middle-income countries
Read the latest paper by Liselotte Hardy. Background: We assessed real-time stability of commercial BCBs stored beyond their expiration dates in simulated “tropical conditions”. For this, we selected 5 brands of aerobic paediatric BCBs (Autobio, DL-Biotech, Schenker, Mindray, bioMérieux). Some of the BCBs were stored at controlled room temperature (as recommended), some in a climate […]
Subscribe now for the Field Laboratory Preparedness short course
Are you a biomedical scientist or professional with an interest in setting up and managing a district laboratory in resource-limited settings? Do you wish to apply the Quality Management System principles in a district laboratory? If so, this course is for you! Apply now for the ITM 3-week training ‘Field Laboratory Preparedness’, before 30 September […]