The Laboratory System Strengthening Community of Practice Project (LabCoP)
Sharing and co-creation of knowledge and best practices
“Starting with existing knowledge and an emphasis on South-to-South collaboration, LabCoP seeks to define, document, and actively share both known and “to-be-created” best practices of viral load scale up and lab systems strengthening amongst MOHs and their stakeholders” – Dr. Peter Ehrenkranz, Gates Foundation
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STRENGTHENING LAB SYSTEMS
The Laboratory Systems Strengthening Community of Practice (LabCoP) is a new learning network, designed to link multidisciplinary teams from member countries to exchange laboratory experiences and best practices. LabCoP aims to help laboratories meet the UNAIDS 90-90-90 treatment targets via South-to-South learning amongst laboratorians, clinicians, policy-makers, patients and communities with the goal of strengthening laboratory systems to improve health outcomes.
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LEARNING TOGETHER
LabCoP activities include webinars and teleconferences using the ECHO model™ with interactive case-based learning and short didactics to facilitate knowledge exchange and joint learning
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DELIVERING LAB SERVICES
LabCoP’s initial focus is the scale-up of routine viral load monitoring for individuals living with HIV. Working with technical experts from around the world, LabCoP assists member countries to identify systems and strategies to improve each step of the viral load ‘cascade’, from community outreach and demand generation, to specimen collection and transport, to efficient and reliable testing, to ensuring that results are used to guide clinical care.
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THEORY OF ACTION
Scaling up VL testing to reach the third 90 of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets by 2020 requires addressing each step of the VL testing continuum. By embracing the intricate context of the VL testing continuum, how it contributes to better patient management, how it relates to the underlying laboratory systems and how it involves national stakeholders, this theory of action depicts how LabCoP aims to help improve laboratory system functions and accelerate the scale-up of VL for improved patient management. Learn more here.
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WHO WE ARE
LabCoP is led by the African Society for Laboratory Medicine, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and technical support from ICAP at Columbia University and Project ECHO at the University of New Mexico. Click here to learn more about our Project Management Team and Project Oversight Committee.
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WHAT WE DO
LabCoP fosters knowledge exchange and joint learning by linking country teams and global experts. Click on the map of African nations that participate in LabCoP to learn more about member-country teams.
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HOW TO JOIN
Any African country can join LabCoP by submitting a letter of support from the Ministry of Health and identifying a team including laboratorians, clinicians, program managers and representatives of individuals living with HIV.
Contact Program Manger, Charles Kiyaga ckiyaga@http://localhost for more information
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LabCoP NEWSLETTER
Click here to read the latest issue or back issues of LabCoP Quarterly, LabCoP’s newsletter for connected country teams, featuring ECHO Session summaries, news and dates of upcoming events.
ECHO SESSION LIBRARY
Check out LabCoP’s past ECHO Session videos and resources here.
Cookbook of Best Practices
Introducing LabCoP’s Cookbook, a downloadable set of considerations and best practice recipes shared by member country teams from across Africa.
Click here to view the Cookbook.
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LabCoP EVENTS
Here you can find upcoming LabCoP and partner events supporting laboratory medicine. Please check back often to make sure you don’t miss out!
ADDITIONAL OUTPUTS AND RESOURCES
Browse LabCoP resources and outputs, like frameworks summarizing VL testing cascade and discussion outcome, VL M&E toolkit, VL self-assessment tool.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click here to learn more about LabCoP, its activities, approach, expected outcomes, how to get involved, and contact information.
SLACK
To request an invitation to join LabCoP’s communication hub please fill out the form below.