Research

Laboratory strengthening requires (often major) investments. These investments should pay off.

Building the evidence base underlying laboratory strengthening

DATOS experts all have a scientific background and thus have a strong interest in performing research feeding into the evidence base underlying laboratory strengthening efforts. As such, DATOS not only implements laboratory strengthening activities, we also investigate whether, and how much, they contribute to laboratory improvement and reaching global health targets.

PhD thesis

On 9 October Dr. Tjeerd Datema received his PhD degree upon the successful defense of his thesis titled: Strengthening health laboratories in low- and middle-income countries through implementation of a quality management system (ISBN 978-94-6416-022-2). This thesis presents and discusses the results of 10 years' research into methods for efficient strengthening of health laboratories through the implementation of a quality management system based on international standards such as ISO 15189 (Medical laboratories - Requirements for quality and competence).

If you like to receive a copy of Tjeerd's thesis, please send him an email or contact him through LinkedIn.

Recent publications

Below is a shortlist of recent publications with contributions of DATOS’ experts. For a complete list of publications by DATOS experts contact  us!

Access to diagnostics

1. Ondoa P, Oskam L, Massinga Loembe M, Okeke IN (2021) Transforming access to diagnostics: how to turn good intentions into action? The Lancet https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02182-6
2. Faber D, Oskam L, Ondoa P (2021) The challenge of determining a National List of Priority Diseases to develop diagnostic services. Lab Culture (26), 32-34.
   
   

Laboratory Quality Management systems and External Quality Assessment

1. Otieno Odhiambo C, van der Puije B, Maina M, Mekonen T, Diallo S, Datema T, Massinga Loembe M, Kebede Y, Ndlovu N, Ondoa P. Reviewing 7 years of implementing quality management systems in medical laboratories in sub-Saharan Africa. Trop Med Int Health. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/tmi.13839
2. Datema T.A.M., Oskam, L., Broerse J.E.W., Klatser P.R. Review of the Stepwise Laboratory Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) version 2:2015. Afr J Lab Med. 2020 9(1):a1068. https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v9i1.1068
3. Carter J, Faber D, Datema T. External quality assesment programmes to improve testing for infectious diseases in Africa. Lab Culture. 2020. p. 27–39. https://aslm.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/LabCulture-issue-24.pdf?x13599
   
   

Scorecards

1. Trollip A, Gadde R, Datema T, Gatwechi K, Oskam L, Katz Z, Whitelaw A, Kinyanjui P, Njukeng P, Wendifraw DA, Mugerwa I, Najjuka G, Dayie N, Opintan JA, Albert H (2022) Implementation of a customised antimicrobial resistance laboratory scorecard in Cameroon, Ethiopia and Kenya. Afr J Lab Med 11(1):a1476 https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v11i1.1476
2. Ondoa P, Datema T, Keita-Sow M-S, Ndihokubwayo J-B, Isadore J, Oskam L, Nkengasong J, Lewis K, (2016). A new matrix for scoring the functionality of national laboratory networks in Africa: introducing the LABNET scorecard. Afr J Lab Med. 5(3), a498. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v5i3.498
   

More information on our research efforts? Feel free to contact us!