ASLM2018 is the fourth biennial international conference of the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) and is being held in Abuja, Nigeria from 10-13 December. The theme of this year’s conference is Preventing and controlling the next pandemic: The role of the laboratory.

FIND is hosting a session on The role of the laboratory in preventing and controlling viral epidemics and viral pandemics.

Background: Accurate diagnosis is key to linking patients to life-saving treatment. This session, led by viral hepatitis and Lassa fever experts, will highlight the vital roles laboratories and diagnostics play across the African continent in response to viral epidemics and viral pandemics. Panelists will focus on some of the key challenges public health systems across the African continent are facing, and discuss how responsive laboratories and innovative diagnosis pathways can help prevent and control future outbreaks.

Tuesday, 11 December 2018, 12:30–14:00 | Room FCT, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja

Speaker	Topic
Francesco Marinucci (Co-Chair) Head of HCV/HIV, FIND	Opening
Uhunmwangho Augustine University of Abuja, Nigeria	Epidemiology of viral hepatitis in SSA
Mtebe Majigo Muhimbili University, Tanzania	High prevalence of HCV, HIV, and HBV among injecting drug users in Dar es Salaam: the potential stumbling block in control of infections in Tanzania
Rosemary Audu NIMR, Nigeria	Challenges with laboratory diagnosis of viral hepatitis
Richard Ndjoum CPC, Cameroon	Hepatitis D infection: Epidemiology, diagnosis and management 40 years after discovery
Anthony Ahumibe NCDC, Nigeria	Supporting Lassa fever response in Nigeria through diagnostic development and lab capacity strengthening
Pascale Ondoa (Co-Chair) Director of Science and New Initiatives, ASLM	Closing

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Oral abstracts

• Wednesday, 12 December 2018, 11:30-12:30 – Francesco Marinucci, Head of HCV & HIV at FIND, will also be co-chairing a session titled Innovations to achieve universal health coverage and international health regulations.
• Wednesday, 12 December, 13:30-15:00 – Devy Emperador, Scientific Officer, Pandemic Preparedness, FIND, will present on How innovations assist in outbreak response.

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Poster sessions

Session 2.2, Wednesday, Dec 12, 12:30-1:30 pm

• Accelerating integration of molecular testing at the provincial level through the CURe (Current Utilization Rate) tool – Paula del Rey Puech, Sonjelle Shilton, Fritz Fonkeng, François Lamoury, Violet Chihota, Elena Ivanova Reipol, Ryan Ruiz, Francesco Marinucci

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