This workshop was provided for staff who are responsible for facilitating Leadership and Investment for Fighting an Epidemic (LIFE) activities. Given the importance of linking public health programs with sound laboratory practices, the target audience included laboratorians, epidemiologists, public health advisors, CDC assignees to LIFE countries, and members of the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL).
 

The quality of laboratory testing is crucial to the success of LIFE initiatives. A broader knowledge of best laboratory practices will be essential in implementing innovative strategies needed to insure quality laboratory data in resource limited environments. This workshop was designed to provide participants with a common understanding of the concepts of Quality Assurance (QA) for testing services for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infection, and opportunistic diseases. The workshop also related the principles and importance of QA for assuring the integrity of data and potential strategies for implementing QA for laboratory testing in resource poor environments.
  

• Identify unique obstacles in the delivery of testing services
   
• Identify essential components of Quality Assurance
   
• Recognize major sources of laboratory error
   
• Describe approaches for monitoring and measuring test performance
   
• Identify strategies for implementing Quality Assurance in LIFE countries
   

• Overview of LIFE Laboratory Activities
    - Dr. Austin Demby
    

• Quality Assurance Overview: Importance of QA
   - Dr. Tom Hearn
       

• Quality Systems
    - Ms. Susan Blonshine
   

• Test verification / validation
    - Dr. Neil Constantine

• Tuberculosis
   - Dr. John Ridderhof
   

• General Microbiology, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Opportunistic Infections
   -  Dr. Mike Noble
   

• Quality Assurance Documentation: Procedures and Records
   - Ms. Stacy Howard