Cytespace Africa Labs Triples Molecular Testing Capacity to Support Clinical Trials Across Sub-Saharan Africa
核心洞察
Cytespace Africa Laboratories (搜索) has tripled its molecular diagnostic throughput by installing multiple Roche cobas® 5800 systems to meet rising demand across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The expansion enables high-volume, fully automated PCR testing to support clinical trials for high-burden diseases including HIV (搜索), Hepatitis B (搜索) and C, and sexually transmitted infections.
As the only fully CAP-accredited central laboratory in South Africa, Cytespace operates under a one-roof model integrating molecular diagnostics with flow cytometry, clinical chemistry, and BSL-3 facilities.
Cytespace Africa Laboratories (搜索), an MLM Medical Labs (搜索) company and the only fully CAP-accredited central laboratory in South Africa, has significantly expanded its molecular testing capabilities by installing multiple Roche cobas® 5800 systems. The strategic investment has tripled the laboratory's molecular diagnostic throughput, enabling high-volume, fully automated PCR testing to support a growing portfolio of clinical trials across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Enhanced Testing Capabilities for High-Burden Diseases
The expansion specifically targets support for sponsors running vaccine and therapeutic trials for high-burden diseases prevalent in the region, including HIV (搜索), Hepatitis B (搜索) and C, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and emerging respiratory or transplant-related infections.
"With our new cobas® platforms, we've significantly advanced our ability to deliver high-throughput, IVD-licensed molecular testing with rapid turnaround times," said Sorika van Niekerk, Managing Director at Cytespace Africa Laboratories (搜索). The systems currently support confirmatory and viral load testing for HIV (搜索)-1/2, quantitative Hepatitis B (搜索)/C, and diagnostics for STIs including Chlamydia (搜索), Gonorrhea (搜索), Mycoplasma (搜索), and Trichomonas (搜索). Additionally, they enable expanded testing for HPV (搜索) genotyping, respiratory panels, donor screening, and transplant pathogens.
Integrated Laboratory Operations
Cytespace operates under a comprehensive one-roof model that integrates molecular diagnostics with flow cytometry, clinical chemistry, hematology, and a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facility. The site manages all kit building and logistics, including both outbound and inbound sample management, ensuring centralized oversight and faster study startups.
The laboratory maintains full compliance with CAP and ISO 15189 standards and leverages MLM Medical Labs (搜索)' global specialty lab infrastructure to deliver high-throughput, rapid infectious disease diagnostics with harmonized, globally aligned testing processes and robust data integrity.
Strategic Positioning for African Clinical Research
"As global sponsors increasingly turn to South Africa for clinical research, we are proud to invest in localized capabilities that reduce complexity, cost, and time to data," said Scott Houlton, CEO of MLM Medical Labs (搜索). "Cytespace Africa Laboratories (搜索) is well-positioned to support scalable trial operations across high-priority therapeutic areas—providing faster startup, fewer shipment delays, and stronger regional oversight."
The investment strengthens Cytespace's role as a preferred clinical trial laboratory partner in Africa, with the laboratory having supported over 1,200 trials since its establishment in 1999. The enhanced capabilities enable end-to-end kit logistics and sample tracking from a single site, addressing the growing demand from pharmaceutical sponsors, CROs, and NGOs conducting clinical research across Sub-Saharan Africa.