8TH AFCC REGIONAL CONGRESS | PROGRAM 2026

Day 1

16th July, 2026

Scientific Programme & Parallel Sessions

Time Main Session Parallel Session
07:00 Registration —
08:15 - 08:20 Opening Prayer
Nairobi Hospital Chaplaincy

National Anthem will be played

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08:20 - 08:25 Safety Brief
Nairobi Hospital Safety Team 		—
08:25 - 08:30 Welcoming Remarks
CCAK and LOC Chair — Mr Kibet Kiptim 		—
08:30 - 08:45 Welcoming Remarks
Congress Chair — Prof R. Erasmus 		—
08:45 - 09:10 Keynote

Chair: Dr Gizachew

Shaping the Future of Laboratory Medicine: Current Innovations, Challenges, and Emerging Trends

Prof. T. Ozben

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09:15 - 11:15 IFCC Symposium 1

Chair: Dr S. Raghubeer

  1. 09:15 - 09:45: Evidence-Based Laboratory Medicine: Why Critical Appraisal Is an Ethical Responsibility
    Prof A. Zemlin, South Africa
  2. 09:45 - 10:15: How to Ethically Read a Scientific Paper: Bias, Transparency, and Misleading Evidence
    Dr A. Don-Wauchope, Canada
  3. 10:15 - 10:45: Artificial Intelligence in Laboratory Medicine: Evidence, Bias, and Ethical Risk
    Dr S. Raghubeer, South Africa
  4. 10:45 - 11:15: From Evidence to Practice: Ethical Decision-Making in the Automated Laboratory
    Dr A. R. Assad, Egypt
09:15 - 10:15

Industry Sponsored Educational Symposium: Symposia 2

Chair: Mr H. Lumano

  1. 09:15 - 09:45: SNIBE @ 30 mins
    Advancements in Nanobody-Based and Single-Molecule Immunoassay Technology — Prof T. Pillay
  2. 09:50 - 10:05: Stiftung für Pathobiochemie und Molekulare Diagnostik (SPMD) Referenzinstitut für Bioanalytik (RfB) @ 15 mins
    External Quality Assurance in Practice – Strengthening Laboratory Quality in African Laboratory Networks — Dr. Anja Kessler
10:05 - 11:15

Oral Research Presentations

8 presentations @ 8 mins

Chair: Dr T. G. Akalu

Q&A

  1. 10:05 - 10:25: External Quality Assessment as a Diagnostic Quality Improvement Tool in Zanzibar: Results from a Multi-Disciplinary Multi-Level Facility Pilot Programme
    Dr George Msengi, Tanzania
  2. 10:25 - 10:35: From Training to Transformation: Accelerating ISO 15189:2022 Accreditation Through a Phased, Context-Driven Quality Management Model at Kapkatet Sub-County Hospital Laboratory, Kenya
    Mr David Ng’ang’a, Kenya
  3. 10:35 - 10:45: Long-Term Assessment of Creatinine Measurement Uncertainty on the Roche Cobas C311 Analyzer Using Quality Control and External Quality Assessment Performance Data
    Mr Francis Awino, Kenya
10:45 - 11:15 Tea and Visit to the Exhibition Tea and Visit to the Exhibition
11:15 - 12:25 ADLM Symposium 3

Chair: Prof. J. Ahaneku

  1. 11:15 - 11:45: Supporting Laboratory Quality Improvement Efforts in Africa Through Education: The Journey So Far.
    Dr M. Tesfazghi, Chair, ADLM GLQI Africa Subcommittee
  2. 11:45 - 12:15: From Workshop Outcomes to National Action: Developing Practice Guidelines and a Policy Brief for POCT in Nigeria Through the ADLM–ACCN Partnership
    Prof Idris Mohammed, Nigeria
  3. 12:15 - 12:25: Q&A
11:15 - 12:00

Oral Research Presentations

5 presentations @ 8 mins

Chair: Dr G. Akalu

  1. 11:15 - 11:25: Point of Care Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
    Dr. Joan Gikundi, Kenya
  2. 11:25 - 11:35: Should We Go Venous? Venous Acid-Base Parameters for Predicting Arterial Values in CKD Patients
    Dr. Wilfred Gatua, Kenya
  3. 11:35 - 11:45: Early Detection of Diabetic Kidney Disease in Type 1 Diabetes: Bridging Diagnostic Gaps and Health System Realities in Sub-Saharan Africa
    Dr. Rosemary Mbijiwe, Kenya
  4. 11:45 - 11:50: Salt-Sensitive Blood Pressure Variation and Cardiovascular Structural Correlates in Adults With and Without HIV in Zambia
    David Chisompola, Zambia
12:30 - 13:30 SAACB Symposium 4

AI in Education in Lab Medicine: Implications and Benefits for Africa

Chair: Prof. T. Pillay

  1. 12:30 - 12:50: From Diagnostic Gaps to Digital Leapfrogging: Why AI Literacy Matters for African Laboratory Medicine Education
    Dr B. Van Deventer, South Africa
  2. 12:50 - 13:10: Teaching the AI-Ready Laboratory Professional: Simulations, Tutors, and Synthetic Data for Competency-Based Training
    Prof T.S. Pillay, South Africa
  3. 13:10 - 13:30: Responsible AI for African Laboratory Education: Governance, Equity, Quality, and Sustainability
    Prof R. Punchoo, South Africa
12:00 - 13:30

International Networking & Collaboration

15 mins each presentation

Chair: Prof Erasmus

  1. 12:00 - 12:15: ADLM — USA
  2. 12:15 - 12:30: EFLM — Prof Zima, Czechia
  3. 12:30 - 12:45: CAHO — Dr Jairam, India
  4. 12:45 - 13:00: Prof Harald, Germany
  5. 13:00 - 13:15: AFCC — Dr G. Akalu, Ethiopia
  6. 13:15 - 13:30: IFCC — Prof Ozben, Turkey
13:30 - 14:25 Lunch —
14:30 - 16:00 NCD Symposium 5

Chair: Prof. A. Amayo

  1. 14:30 - 14:50: Triglyceride-Glucose Index in Patients with NAFLD: A Surrogate Marker for Identification of Diabetes Mellitus and Dyslipidemia
    Prof Bhargava, India
  2. 14:50 - 15:10: Update on Cardiac Markers
    Prof. H. Renz, Germany
  3. 15:10 - 15:30: EFLM Lecture: Cancer Biomarkers for Personalised Medicine
    Prof Zima, Czechia
  4. 15:30 - 15:50: Integrating Epidemiology, Genomics, & the Oral Microbiome to Understand Cardiometabolic Risk: Insights from VMH Study, Cape Town, South Africa
    Dr S. Davids, South Africa
Symposium 6

Achieving Quality in Lab Performance and Diagnostics

Chair: Prof G. Omuse

  1. 14:30 - 14:50: From Good to Being Great: The Art of Leadership
    Prof Erasmus
  2. 14:50 - 15:10: Training for Impact: Building Competency and Excellence in the Clinical Laboratory
    Dr Lam, Singapore
  3. 15:10 - 15:30: The Paradigms and Paradoxes of Sigma Metrics in the Analytical Phase of the Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
    Prof Bhargava, India
  4. 15:30 - 15:50: Reference Intervals and Decision Limits
    Prof Omuse, Nairobi, Kenya
16:00 - 17:00 AFCC Symposium 7

Newborn Screening

Chair: Prof A. Okesina

  1. 16:00 - 16:15: Overcoming Hurdles to NBS in Africa
    Prof Okesina
  2. 16:15 - 16:30: Initiating NBS in Africa: Beginning Small and Acting Smart
    Dr Maina, Nairobi, Kenya
  3. 16:30 - 16:45: Specimen Collection in Neonates: Best Practices
    Dr. De La Luz-Martinez, Mexico
  4. 16:45 - 17:00: State of NBS in Africa – Survey Results
    Dr T. Satekge, Johannesburg, South Africa
Industry-Sponsored Workshop

Chair: Dr Cyrus Matheka

16:00 - 16:30: Auto-Bio, China

Use of Immunoassays in Infectious Diseases

  1. Mr. Frank Zhao, Int'l Service Director of Autobio
  2. Dr. Vincent Mutava, Laboratory Services Manager, AAR Healthcare (K) Limited
17:00 - 17:30 Plenary

Chair: Prof T. Ozben

Sepsis Biomarkers

Prof Renz, Germany

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17:30 - 21:30 Opening Ceremony and Cocktail
  1. 18:00 - 18:10: CCAK & LOC Chair — Kiptim Kibet
  2. 18:10 - 18:20: Congress Chair — Prof R. Erasmus
  3. 18:20 - 18:30: AFCC President — Dr G. Akalu
  4. 18:30 - 18:40: IFCC President — Prof T. Ozben
  5. 18:45 - 21:00: Cocktail
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Day 2

17th July, 2026

Scientific Programme & Parallel Sessions

Time Main Session Parallel Session
08:00 - 08:30 Exhibition Open Exhibition Open
08:30 - 09:00 — AFCC Young Scientists Forum

Chair: Mr K. Kiptim

Keynote: Impact of Building a Young Scientist and How to Gather Opportunities Globally
09:00 - 09:20 Lecture

When Results Lie: Unmasking Interference in Immunoassays

Dr Lam, Singapore

 Young Scientists Forum

Cultivating Leadership Among Young and Mid-Level Scientists: Building Resilient Lab Systems and Strengthening the Future Scientific Workforce in Africa

F. J. Kandama, Zambia
09:20 - 09:50 UNIVANTS

Improving Patient Outcomes Through Quality-Linked Collaborations

T. Ravalico, USA

 Young Scientists Forum

09:30 - 09:50

Sepsis in Motion: Using Procalcitonin Trajectories to Improve Risk Stratification

A. Fataar, South Africa
09:50 - 11:45 IFCC Symposium 8

Precision Diagnostics in Kidney Disease: From Analytical Challenges to Emerging Biomarkers

Chair: Dr. Namita Mahalle

  1. 09:50 - 10:20
    Analytical Challenges and Interpretation of Laboratory Results in Chronic Kidney Disease
    Dr S. Narawade, India
  2. 10:20 - 10:50
    eGFR Measurement: Accuracy, Limitations, and Clinical Implications
    Prof. A. Adedeji, Nigeria
  3. 10:50 - 11:20
    Emerging Biomarkers for Early Detection of Acute Kidney Injury: Clinical and Laboratory Insights
  4. 11:20 - 11:45
    Defective Regulation of the Alternative Complement Pathways in Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) Leading to Kidney Disease
10:00 - 10:20

Closing the Loop: Improving Critical Laboratory Result Communication in Sub-Saharan Africa

A. Davids

10:20 - 11:45

Young Scientists Abstract Presentations

Chair: Dr Rampul

  1. 10:20 - 10:30
    Benchmarking POCT Glucose Quality Indicators Against ISO 22870 and ISO 15189 Aligned Domains: Evidence From Malawi
    Thandie Dzundi, Malawi
  2. 10:30 - 10:40
    Point-of-Care Glucose Versus Laboratory Glucose for Glycaemic Control Monitoring in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients
    Dr. Mercy Solomon, Nigeria
  3. 10:40 - 10:50
    Recent POCT-to-Laboratory Comparison Is Associated With Lower Odds of Absent IQC in POCT Glucose Testing
    Frank Chalero, Malawi
  4. 10:50 - 11:00
    Effects of Bitter Leaf Enriched Herbal Tea Blend Consumption on Body Weight, Immunological, Haematological, and Renal Function Biomarkers Among Healthy Students in Nnewi
    Emmanuel Augustine, Nigeria
  5. 11:00 - 11:10
    Genomic Data Analysis and Computational Biology to Enhance Disease Surveillance in Zambia
    Mr Luckson Muwandia, Zambia
  6. 11:20 - 11:30
    Metabolic and Inflammatory Axes of Insulin Resistance in Normoglycemic Adults in a High HIV Burden Population
    Dr. Situmbeko Liweleya, Zambia
  7. 11:30 - 11:40
    Collaborative Diagnostics Supporting Maternal and Child Health
    Nyasha Nguluwe, Malawi
  8. 11:40 - 11:45
    Strengthening HIV Rapid Testing Accuracy Through Continuous Quality Improvements in Isoka District, Zambia
    Mr. Silvester Mpanga, Zambia
11:45 - 12:15 Tea Tea
12:15 - 13:00 Infectious Disease Update

Chair: TBA

  1. 12:15 - 12:35
    Mitigating the Spread of TB Through Point of Care Testing (POCT)
    Prof Nyasulu, South Africa
  2. 12:40 - 13:00
    HbA1c Testing During the Covid-19 Pandemic
    Prof A. Zemlin, South Africa
NCD Research Update

Chair: Dr Matshazi

  1. 12:15 - 12:35
    Can a Tape Measure Predict Diabetes? Identifying Insulin Resistance in the South African Community
    Dr S. Davids, South Africa
  2. 12:40 - 13:00
    Perceived Body Image and Weight Management in a South African Population
    Dr S. Raghubeer, South Africa
13:00 - 13:30 Plenary

Cardiovascular Health in Africa

Prof A. Kengne, African Population Health Research Centre, Nairobi

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13:30 - 14:25 Lunch Lunch
14:30 - 16:30 IFCC Symposium 9

Emerging Technologies Transforming Lab Medicine for Equitable and Sustainable Healthcare

Chair: Prof. B. Gouget

  1. 14:30 - 15:00
    From Laboratories to Networks: AI and Connected Diagnostics for Africa’s Last Mile
    Dr B. Gouget, France
  2. 15:00 - 15:30
    Next-Generation Diagnostics for Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance
    Prof. F. Doucet Populaire
  3. 15:30 - 16:00
    Emerging Biomarkers and Precision Medicine: Bridging Implementation Barriers in Africa
    Dr Shah, India
  4. 16:00 - 16:30
    The Human Exposome: Integrating Environmental Factors Into Precision Diagnostics for Africa
    Dr Ganguli, India
14:30 - 14:50

Expression Profiles of miR-146-5p May Reflect Long-Term Glycaemic Improvement in a Mixed Ancestry Population

Dr S. Davids

15:00 - 15:20

Symposium 10

Chair: Izza Abdulhafedh

African Medical Labs Excellence Program: From Idea to Reality

Prof. R. Sharkawy, Egypt

15:20 - 15:54

Diagnostic Challenges in Identifying Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in a Resource-Limited Setting: A Case Report From Nakuru, Kenya

Dr. Franklin Ndirangu, Kenya

15:50 - 17:00

Poster Tour
16:30 - 17:00 Closing Keynote Lecture

Climate Change and Health

Prof C. Berri, Germany

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17:00 - 17:30 Awards and Closing Ceremony
  1. Dr G. Akalu, AFCC President
  2. Mr Kibet Peter, Chair
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