KENAS Advances Biobanking Accreditation to Strengthen Africa's Health Research Systems

Building confidence in biological materials through internationally recognised accreditation standards.

As Africa strengthens its capacity for disease surveillance, biomedical research and public health preparedness, the quality and reliability of biological materials used in scientific investigations have become increasingly important.

Biobanks play a critical role in this ecosystem by collecting, processing, storing and distributing biological materials and associated data for research and other scientific applications. Their effectiveness, however, depends on maintaining quality, integrity, traceability and appropriate management systems.

Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) is contributing to this growing area of quality infrastructure through its ISO 20387:2018 Biobanking Accreditation Scheme, which provides independent assessment of biobanking competence, impartiality and consistent operation.

KENAS Contributes Expertise to Africa CDC Mission

As part of regional technical cooperation, KENAS Deputy Director, Medical Laboratories, Ms. Doris Mueni Mengo, joined an Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) mission alongside experts from Africa CDC and Institut Pasteur de Dakar.

The mission focused on discussions and technical engagements aimed at advancing biobanking accreditation and strengthening the application of internationally recognised quality standards.

The engagement highlighted the growing importance of accreditation in supporting reliable biological materials for biomedical research, diagnostics, disease surveillance and evidence-based public health decision-making.

KENAS's participation reflects its commitment to sharing technical expertise and supporting the development of quality-driven research infrastructure across Africa.

Why Biobanking Accreditation Matters

Biological materials, including blood, tissue and other specimens, are valuable resources in medical research and public health investigations. Their scientific usefulness depends significantly on how they are collected, processed, preserved, stored and managed.

Accreditation to ISO 20387:2018 provides independent assurance that a biobank has demonstrated competence and operates consistently in accordance with the applicable requirements of the standard.

For research institutions and public health organisations, accredited biobanking services help strengthen confidence in the quality and traceability of biological materials, supporting more reliable research processes and collaboration.

Accreditation also promotes continuous improvement, effective management systems and internationally aligned practices.

KENAS Expanding Accreditation into Emerging Sectors

Through its ISO 20387:2018 Biobanking Accreditation Scheme, KENAS is extending the application of accreditation beyond traditional conformity assessment activities into specialised scientific and research services.

This development responds to the increasing need for dependable quality systems in biomedical research and public health infrastructure.

By providing accreditation services to biobanks, KENAS supports institutions seeking to demonstrate technical competence, strengthen operational systems and build confidence among researchers, partners and other stakeholders.

Strengthening Africa's Public Health Preparedness

Africa's ability to respond effectively to emerging health threats depends partly on the strength of its laboratory, research and biological resource management systems.

International cooperation, technical capacity development and the adoption of recognised standards are therefore essential to building sustainable public health infrastructure.

Engagements such as the Africa CDC mission provide opportunities for accreditation bodies and scientific institutions to exchange expertise, strengthen institutional capabilities and advance consistent quality practices.

For KENAS, the mission reinforces the importance of accreditation as an enabling tool for scientific excellence, research collaboration and public health preparedness.

As Africa invests in stronger health research systems, accreditation will remain an important foundation for building confidence in the biological materials and services upon which scientific discoveries and public health decisions depend.