A Culture of Quality and Collaboration

text: Katrine Anker-Nilssen, photo: Supplied

The Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) has achieved an impressive milestone this year, scoring a perfect 100% in two challenging external quality assurance (EQA) tests. These tests, known as the 2025 Respiratory I Plus and Respiratory II EQA Schemes, were facilitated by Quality Control for Molecular Diagnostics (QCMD), an esteemed independent organisation dedicated to proficiency testing in the field of clinical molecular diagnostics. Let’s take a closer look at what this achievement means.

What Are EQA Challenges?

Think of external quality assurance challenges as report cards for laboratories. They measure how well labs can identify various viruses that cause respiratory illnesses, such as influenza and COVID-19. Hundreds of labs from around 40 countries took part in these tests, using a variety of samples: some contained well-known viruses, while others were free of pathogens. CERI submitted its results for evaluation, and to everyone’s delight, the scores were perfect! CERI is one of the few laboratories in South Africa actively involved in monitoring respiratory viruses. Since the start of the year, we have released around 240 viral genomes to the public, contributing significantly to flu forecasting for the region.

Behind the Success: What Makes CERI Stand Out?

Dr Lavanya Singh, CERI’s Head of Laboratory, highlights that achieving a 100% score is not just a chance win but the result of dedication and rigorous practices ingrained into the lab’s culture. “Our laboratory has strict protocols that include positive and negative quality controls. This helps us keep track of our performance consistently,” she explains, emphasising the importance of using validated methods and welltrained personnel.

These practices help CERI maintain high standards, ensuring that every sample is handled with the utmost care – from when it arrives at the lab to when the results are delivered.

The Importance of EQA Schemes for Continuous Improvement

Participation in EQA schemes, such as those offered by QCMD, is vital for CERI’s growth. These assessments push the lab to continually evaluate and refine internal processes. “They help us review our methods, equipment, and training protocols,” says Lavanya. “This feedback is crucial for our ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation, as it provides an objective way to see how we measure up against peer labs globally.”

Building Trust and Reputation in Diagnostics

CERI’s achievement not only reflects on its internal quality but also strengthens its reputation in the molecular diagnostics field. “Having a solid score like this opens doors for future collaborations,” Lavanya notes. “It builds trust and credibility among local and international partners, which is essential for securing grants and funding opportunities.”

A Culture of Quality and Collaboration

CERI’s approach to fostering a culture of quality has substantially evolved. “We have aligned the goals of our wet-lab and bioinformatics teams,” Lavanya explains. “This alignment nurtures a shared commitment to producing high-quality results.” The seamless communication between teams leads to valuable discussions on method validation and optimisation, creating an environment ripe for innovation.

In conclusion, CERI’s 100% scores in external quality assurance testing showcase a commitment to excellence that goes beyond numbers – it represents a collective effort in team training, process improvement, and a commitment to public health. With shared goals and collaboration at the heart of CERI’s operation, the laboratory stands ready to continue making significant contributions to the field of molecular diagnostics.