Kosovo Lab Earns Global Praise for Testing Influenza and COVID-19

The National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo (NIPHK) has also marked an important success in the field of laboratory diagnostics, confirming for the sixth consecutive year its high performance in testing respiratory viruses, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

The influenza reference laboratory, which operates within the Department of Microbiology at the National Institute of Public Health, has participated in the Global External Quality Assessment (EQA) Program, organized by the global network GISRS (Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System), under the leadership of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The positive results achieved by the laboratory in molecular testing for influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses, testify to a consistent standard of quality and professionalism, ranking Kosovo among countries with advanced laboratory capacities in the field of public health.

Continued participation in this international program underscores NIPHK's commitment to quality assurance, capacity building, and benchmarking capabilities against global standards, as well as serving as a basis for continuous improvements in the national laboratory diagnostics system.

NIPHK remains committed to building a strong laboratory infrastructure that guarantees accuracy, safety and reliability in all testing, thus contributing to the protection of public health in Kosovo.