Kuwait’s poliovirus lab earns 100% efficiency in WHO evaluation
Achieving a perfect score in 2024 PCR testing reflects the Poliovirus Reference Laboratory team’s excellence and ability to apply the latest scientific advancements.
• The achievement is a testament to the Poliovirus Reference Laboratory’s commitment to applying the latest international standards in diagnosis, ensuring the accuracy and credibility of results in the fight against poliovirus.
Highlighting Kuwait’s dedication to top-tier public health standards, the Poliovirus Reference Laboratory under the Ministry of Health’s Department of Public Health has achieved a remarkable milestone. The laboratory received a perfect 100% efficiency rating for 2024 in partial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, as part of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) proficiency assessment program, reported Al Jarida newspaper.
The Ministry of Health stated in a press release that this achievement is a testament to the laboratory’s commitment to applying the latest international standards in diagnosis, ensuring the accuracy and credibility of results in the fight against poliovirus.
Achieving this full evaluation not only reflects the scientific and technical excellence of the laboratory team but also highlights the laboratory’s ability to stay abreast of the latest scientific developments and apply them effectively. This enhances its pivotal role in global efforts to eliminate the disease.
Dr. Sarah Al-Qabandi, the Head of the Department of Public Health Laboratories, expressed her pride in the efforts of the reference laboratory team.
She emphasized that the poliovirus reference laboratory is one of the main pillars of the global public health system, playing a critical role in confirming cases of infection and monitoring the virus’s spread through the analysis of environmental and human samples.
Additionally, the laboratory contributes to providing precise data on virus strains, which are instrumental in guiding vaccination and control strategies at the international level.
Dr. Al-Qabandi extended her gratitude and appreciation to all those working in the laboratory, the public health sector, and the department, stressing that this achievement serves as a motivation to continue working diligently toward further successes. These efforts enhance Kuwait’s position as a major supporter of international initiatives to eradicate polio and safeguard the health and safety of future generations.
