CDC in Kazakhstan Implements Laboratory Quality Control

At a glance

U.S. CDC and Kazakhstan worked together to strengthen laboratory quality standards well before the COVID-19 pandemic. This investment helped the country in Central Asia respond to COVID-19 using ISO 15189, a standard which specifies the quality management system requirements particular to a medical laboratory. Laboratory quality requirements improve test result accuracy and timely response to disease outbreaks to save lives.

Lab workers in PPE.

Photo essay

people walking in the lab
Kazakhstan, a country in Central Asia, reported its first case of COVID-19 on March 13, 2020. However, CDC’s preparation to improve Kazakhstan’s laboratory quality control began well before the pandemic by making sure laboratories meet quality standa...
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people working in the lab
Shortly before the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 a global pandemic, the Kazakhstan National Center for Expertise (NCE) passed an important milestone, with support from its international partners: all 16 regional laboratories u...
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Man talkin to a woman
CDC played a central role in implementing the standard at National Center for Expertise (NCE) laboratories by helping them organize specialized trainings for staff, conduct assessments of biosecurity and biosafety, and strengthen internal audit progr...
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people working in the lab
"The process of implementing the standard was very labor-intensive because each laboratory had to demonstrate that it can do all the tests and all the work that’s expected of them in accordance with the requirements of the standard,” said Yerken Alzh...
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computer and micro lab machine
CDC continued to support National Center for Expertise (NCE) laboratories throughout the pandemic by providing necessary equipment, supplies, and trainings for the staff. As a result, NCE laboratories produced more accurate test results during the CO...
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Content Source:
Global Health Center