Before 2011, the Central Veterinary Research Institute (CVRI) and its provincial laboratories in Zambia faced significant operational hurdles in managing and processing laboratory data. Without a  widely adopted system like a Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), laboratory operations were hindered by inefficiencies in data tracking, slow sample management, manual errors and delays in reporting critical animal diseases, such as salmonellosis and avian influenza  for a well-informed decision-making. Despite initial efforts to implement LIMS at CVRI, Choma and Mongu laboratories, limited technical expertise  and equipment continued to pose obstacles to effective disease monitoring and control.

FAO Intervention

Recognizing the urgent need for effective animal disease management, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), through its Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Global Health Security (GHS) programme, partnered with Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise (IZSAM) to address these challenges. From October to December of 2023, FAO provided crucial technical support by upgrading the Sistema Informativo dei Laboratori [Laboratory Information System] (SILAB), a specialized LIMS designed to streamline and automate laboratory operations in Africa. It helps manage and track samples, process data, and organize laboratory workflows efficiently. The intervention included training 15 laboratory staff on the SILAB system, and enhancing connectivity to four additional provincial laboratories (Chipata, Ndola, Solwezi, and Kasama). New computers and printers were also provided, addressing earlier operational limitations.

Impact on beneficiaries

The implementation of SILAB has improved  the efficiency of veterinary laboratories in Zambia, significantly benefiting farmers and the broader community. With the number of samples received for avian salmonellosis testing skyrocketing from 1 844 in the first quarter of 2023 to 11 250 in the same period of 2024, and avian influenza samples rising from 46 to 800, farmers are now experiencing quicker diagnoses and more effective disease management as samples are tracked individually and not as a group, Further, farmers are now experiencing quicker feedback of diagnosis results as LIMS has improved the turnaround time from sample testing to results from an average of 15 days to an average of 5 days.

The system's enhanced connectivity between provincial veterinary laboratories has allowed for real-time data sharing and faster sample processing. Dr. Edgar Kayesa, Senior Veterinary Research Officer at CVRI, shared, “SILAB has revolutionized laboratory operations, increasing our sample throughput and improving efficiency. ”SILAB system has also replaced the outdated paper-based reporting with an automated electronic system, streamlining workflows and ensuring accountability. “The new system has made data capturing more manageable,” said Mr. Christopher Siame, Senior Research Scientist at Choma Provincial Laboratory. “It enhances our response to animal diseases, and visitors are often surprised by our advanced capabilities.”

SILAB operates in compliance with  ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards, ensuring that laboratory results are reliable and standardized, helping building farmers’ trust  in laboratory services through enhanced epidemiological surveillance and quick outbreak notifications. With faster and more dependable test results, farmers can now better protect their  livestock, enhancing their livelihoods and contributing to a stronger  agricultural sector.

Looking ahead, FAO ECTAD Zambia plans to link SILAB to the open-source software platform District Health Information Software (DHIS2) for better information sharing between the animal health Epidemiology and Laboratory Units and public health surveillance system, since DHIS2 is a public surveillance system, ensuring that Zambia’s animal health sector remains at the forefront of One Health implementation in the country. 

Through FAO's and USAID’s support, Zambia is building a more resilient health system for controlling and preventing animal diseases, benefiting livelihoods and agri-food systems and public health.