The Laboratory Services Programme at IDI is made up of four components:  the Makerere University-Johns Hopkins University (MU-JHU) Core Lab at IDI, the stat lab in the IDI clinic, the laboratory training programme, and on-site laboratory capacity building activities that take place through various projects.  Within the IDI Strategic Plan, the goal for laboratory services is to develop and continually improve sustainable laboratory capacity at IDI to meet both clinical and research demands for laboratory services from IDI, Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa; and to support the enhancement of lab quality in sub-Saharan Africa.  Key objectives include the following:   

• Maintaining the relevance of the Lab Programme in meeting the evolving needs to IDI and Uganda, in support of Government of Uganda strategy; and also meeting some of the evolving needs in sub-Saharan Africa
• Providing a level and mix of tests which meets the current and expected needs of service providers and research projects
• Developing and testing new approaches to lab tests, in terms of design, quality and/or reduced cost; advocating for their use and supporting roll out
• Establishing documented partnerships with other laboratories in Uganda to provide a range of lab services across Uganda that includes testing, lab QA/QC, technical assistance and lab training
• Developing and strengthening cooperative relationships with all labs on Mulago Hill
• Supporting the strengthening of the Department of Microbiology at Makerere University; and developing linkages with the lab at the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University
• Improving lab skills in the health workforce in Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa

This is an area that is critical for the development of health systems in Uganda, and the programme continues to evolve in order to address Uganda’s needs in this area in the most comprehensive way possible.