Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL), Sierra Leone

Background

The Central Public Health Reference Laboratory (CPHRL) was initially established in 2005 as an HIV Reference Laboratory under the leadership of the Director of the National HIV/AIDS Secretariat. In 2010, the HIV Reference Laboratory was upgraded to the Central Public Health Reference Laboratory through the partnership of various organizations, including the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), Global Fund, US-CDC, WHO, UNICEF, APHL and AHF. The CPHRL was officially inaugurated on Tuesday, August 21, 2012, by the Minister of Health and Sanitation.

The Central Public Health Reference Laboratory (CPHRL) of Sierra Leone is a government institution set up and run by the Ministry of Health under the Directorate of Laboratory, Diagnostics and Blood Services (DLDBS).

The main goal of the CPHRL is to provide diagnostic and referral services for priority diseases and scientific research. The laboratory has four testing departments: Bacteriology, Molecular, Serology, and Sequencing.

The CPHRL oversees the technical operations of the regional and peripheral laboratories in the country through the implementation of external quality assessment (EQA) and continuous quality improvement.

Vision statement

To be the keystone of national and regional health security, driving excellence in diagnostic testing, disease surveillance and research, thereby safeguarding the health and well-being of Sierra Leone’s population and contributing to global health resilience.

Mission statement

The CPHRL is committed to providing high quality laboratory services, conducting research to improve public health, and collaborating with partners to strengthen the capacity of laboratories within the country The laboratory is focused on delivering accurate and timely diagnostic testing, using innovative technologies to identify and address public health threats, and sharing knowledge with partners to improve the health of communities in Sierra Leone.

Quality policy statement

Central Public Health Reference Laboratory accepts responsibility for the complete satisfaction of its laboratory users. This responsibility is delivered through adequate training of our employees, professional and ethical commitment to patient care through quality examinations, meeting and exceeding customer requirements, and maintaining an institutional culture that fosters continuous improvement.

Quality objectives

• To ensure the Quality Management System (ISO 15189: 2022) is fully documented and implemented by September 2024.
• To monitor turnaround time for results released at CPHRL and ensure that ≥80% of all test results meet the respective stipulated turnaround times by September 2024.
• To track and ensure that sample rejection rate of ≤2.5% is achieved by the September 2024.
• To strive to achieve user needs and ensure that CPHRL meets ≥80% laboratory user satisfaction by September 2024.
• To provide a safe working environment for staff and visitors at all times and reduce safety adverse incidents to 5 per month by September 2024.

Location and contact Information

• TB Complex Peninsula Road, Lakka, Freetown, Sierra Leone
• Central Public Health Reference Laboratory (CPHRL)
• Telephone: (to be provided)
• WhatsApp: (to be provided)
• Email address: info@cphrl.com

Advisory services

The management of the CPHRL can be contacted for advice at any time through the contact information above, including:

• Choice of tests and use of the services offered by the laboratory
• Specimen requirements and need for repeat testing
• Interpretation of results
• Other services include referral of specimens to other international reference laboratories for testing, if required.

The management shall provide information via WhatsApp, email, calls, in-person meetings, conferences or through a delegated authority.

Laboratory operational hours

The CPHRL is open on Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 am to 5:00 p.m. except for public holidays.  For any urgent requests during weekends, public holidays or at other times, on-call duty staff can be contacted at (+232 784 98114 and +232 326428).

Functions of the CPHRL

• Training and capacity building
• Internships and attachments

The CPHRL accepts interns and students on attachment from the University of Sierra Leone (COMAHS FBC), Njala University, University of Makeni and Milton Margai University on receipt of a letter of request and subject to space availability 

• Support supervision of other lower-tier labs

The CPHRL conducts support supervision of laboratories within the country on request. 

• Public Health-related research.

The CPHRL supports approved laboratory-based research projects in the country, as required. Current research being conducted includes:

Mutation panel for SARS-CoV using QuantStudio 5

Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Sierra Leone

PanGens project

• External quality assessment and proficiency testing (EQA/PT).

The CPHRL operates an HIV serology PT scheme for HIV testers in the country. CPHRL through collaboration with NACP also supports enrollment, distribution and reporting of HIV Viral Load and Early Infant Diagnosis PT sourced from the Institute Pasteur de Dakar, Senegal.

• Pre- and post-market validation of testing kits.
• Coordination, generation and of national guidance documents.
• Scope of diagnostic testing at the CPHRL.

The tests currently performed at the CPHRL are listed below. For dashboard visualization of testing statistics, see the SL-iLIMS domain (www.cphrl.com )

• Reference and specialized testing, e.g. genomic sequencing.