Cytespace Africa Labs Enhances Testing Capacity for Clinical Trials Across Sub-Saharan Africa

Cytespace Africa Laboratories Expands Molecular Testing Capacity

Cytespace Africa Laboratories, part of MLM Medical Labs and the only fully CAP-accredited lab in South Africa, has made significant strides in enhancing its molecular testing capabilities. This expansion is in response to the growing demand for high-quality diagnostic testing across Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly for clinical trials related to major health crises such as HIV, Hepatitis, and emerging respiratory infections.

Major Technological Advances

The laboratory has installed multiple Roche cobas® 5800 systems, which have tripled their molecular diagnostic throughput. This high-volume, automated PCR testing now plays a critical role in supporting an expanding portfolio of clinical trials aimed at tackling infectious diseases. According to Sorika van Niekerk, the Managing Director of Cytespace Africa Laboratories, this investment enhances their ability to provide high-throughput, IVD-licensed molecular testing with rapid turnaround times.

The cobas® systems allow for a range of tests, including confirmatory and viral load testing for HIV-1/2, quantitative assessments for Hepatitis B and C, and diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. They also enable expanded testing for HPV genotyping and donor screening for transplant-related pathogens, thereby broadening the scope of the lab’s capabilities.