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Diagnostics and reference services

Laboratory Services

Laboratory science supporting patient care, research and public health.

Laboratory technologist operating automated Yumizen hematology diagnostic analyzer

NHRTI’s laboratory services support clinical outpatient care, hospital referrals, disease surveillance, and national health research. Explore our comprehensive diagnostic test directory and service groups below.

For patient care

Clinical diagnostic investigations for outpatients and walk-ins alongside the NHRTI Clinic.

Explore clinic services

For referral teams

Reference expertise supporting complex diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and multi-province surveillance.

For research

Specialised testing platforms, specimen biobanking, and clinical trial support connected with our scientific portfolio.

Explore research
Laboratory scientist operating automated robotic liquid handling diagnostic system
Diagnostic & Reference Services

Comprehensive Laboratory Testing Directory

NHRTI operates accredited, quality-assured laboratories equipped for routine diagnostics, specialized clinical investigations, and high-complexity molecular research. Our facility serves clinicians, healthcare centres, corporate health programmes, and research partners across Zambia.

Review the test directory boxes below or open the full catalogue for detailed test listings across each specialty.

Browse test directory

Diagnostic Test Directory by Specialty

Select from our core clinical and research laboratory disciplines below. Each box outlines available investigations and diagnostic capabilities.

Haematology & Coagulation

Full Blood Count (WBC diff), Blood Smears, Bone Marrow, Sickling Test, Hb S Solubility, Hb Electrophoresis, Newborn Screening (Haemoglobinopathy), Reticulocytes, ESR, Coombs Test, G6PD, PT, APTT, Thrombin Time, Fibrinogen, Factors VII & IX, FDP, D-Dimers, CD4.

Clinical Chemistry & Organ Panels

Electrolytes (Na, K, Cl, PO4, Mg, Ca), Kidney Function (Urea, Creatinine), Liver Function (ALT, AST, GGT, TP, Albumin, TBIL, DBIL, ALP), Lipid Profile, Pancreatic Enzymes, Cardiac Biomarkers (CK, LDH, Troponin I/S, Myoglobin), Acid-Base (Lactate, Bicarbonate), CRP, and Iron Profile.

Glycaemic & Special Chemistry

Fasting & Random Blood Sugar, OGTT, 2-Hours Post-Prandial, HbA1c, Bence Jones Protein, Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA), CSF Protein, Serum Protein Electrophoresis, Adenosine Deaminase (ADA), Uric Acid, and Acid Phosphatase.

Molecular Diagnostics

HIV Viral Load, Influenza PCR, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), diagnostic PCR assays, and DNA/RNA sequencing for pathogen characterization and resistance surveillance.

Endocrinology & Hormones

Thyroid function testing (TSH, T3, T4, Free T4) and reproductive hormone panels (Estradiol, Progesterone, FSH, LH, Prolactin, Testosterone) for endocrine and fertility investigations.

Immunology & Serology

ABO Blood Grouping & Crossmatch, Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR), Rheumatoid Factor (RF), HIV rapid/confirmatory, Syphilis, Pregnancy (hCG), CAT, PSA, HBsAg, and Hepatitis C (HCV).

Parasitology

Malaria microscopy (thick and thin blood smears), malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDT), Trypanosomes detection, and Leishmania diagnosis for endemic and imported parasitic infections.

Routine Urine, Stool & Semen

Urinalysis chemical dipstick, urine routine sediment microscopy, stool routine microscopy, modified ZN stain (Cryptosporidium/Isospora), faecal occult blood, and full semen analysis.

Microbiology & Cultures

Culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for skin, swabs (including eye and ear swabs), CSF, urine, stool, blood, sputum, pus, and sterile body fluids, plus drinking water quality bacteriological analysis.

Biobanking Services

Quality-assured biological specimen repository supporting longitudinal research, genomics, and epidemiological investigations.

Explore Biobanking

Research Laboratory Services

HIV Recency (Ro), Genital Swab PCR, CT/NG panel, Gonorrhoea & Chlamydia Ag, HSV IgM, Measles/Rubella serology, COVID-19, TAT, HBcAg/HBeAg, HAV, Malaria PCR, DMFA, and Body Composition Analysis.

Regional TB Reference Services

SADCAS ISO 15189:2022 accredited culture (MGIT/LJ), first & second-line DST, LPA, GeneXpert MTB/RIF, and DR-TB surveillance across Northern Zambia.

Explore TB Services

Detailed Test Directory Catalogue

Open any specialty to view the specific laboratory tests, investigations, and specimen methodologies available at NHRTI.

Haematology & Coagulation

Full blood counts, cell morphology, bone marrow examination, coagulation screening, haemoglobinopathies, and CD4 staging.

  • Full Blood Count with WBC Differential
  • Peripheral Blood Smear
  • Bone Marrow Examination
  • Sickling Test
  • Hb S Solubility Test
  • Hb Electrophoresis
  • Newborn Screening (Haemoglobinopathy)
  • Reticulocyte Count
  • Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
  • Coombs Test
  • G-6-PD Deficiency Test
  • Prothrombin Time (PT)
  • Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT)
  • Thrombin Time (TT)
  • Fibrinogen Assay
  • Factor VII Assay
  • Factor IX Assay
  • Fibrinogen Degradation Products (FDP)
  • D-Dimers
  • CD4 Count
Clinical Chemistry & Organ Panels

Electrolytes, renal, liver, lipid, cardiac, pancreatic, acid-base, inflammatory markers, and iron studies.

  • Electrolytes: Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Chloride (Cl), Phosphate, Magnesium, Calcium
  • Kidney Function Tests: Urea, Creatinine
  • Liver Function Tests: ALT, AST, GGT, Total Protein, Albumin, Total Bilirubin, Direct Bilirubin, ALP
  • Lipid Profile: Total Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides
  • Pancreatic Function Tests: Lipase, Alpha-Amylase
  • Cardiac Profile: Creatine Kinase (CK), LDH, Troponin I, Troponin S, Myoglobin
  • Acid-Base Balance: Lactic Acid, Bicarbonate
  • Inflammation: C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
  • Iron Profile: Total Iron, Transferrin, Ferritin, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
  • Glycaemic Profile: Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Random Blood Sugar (RBS), Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), 2-Hours Post-Prandial, HbA1c
  • Special Chemistry: Bence Jones Protein, Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA), CSF Protein, Serum Protein Electrophoresis, Adenosine Deaminase (ADA), Uric Acid, Acid Phosphatase
Molecular Diagnostics

High-throughput viral load quantification, early infant diagnosis (EID), HPV genotyping, and target-specific PCR assays.

  • HIV Viral Load
  • Influenza PCR
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Early Infant Diagnosis (EID)
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
  • DNA and RNA Sequencing
Endocrinology & Reproductive Hormones

Thyroid axis hormones and female and male reproductive endocrine profiling.

  • Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
  • Triiodothyronine (T3)
  • Thyroxine (T4)
  • Free Thyroxine (FT4)
  • Estradiol
  • Progesterone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
  • Prolactin
  • Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
  • Testosterone
Immunology & Serology

Blood banking, infectious serology, rheumatoid markers, PSA, and viral hepatitis profiling.

  • Blood Grouping and Crossmatch
  • Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR)
  • Rheumatoid Factor (RF)
  • HIV Rapid and Confirmatory
  • Syphilis Screening
  • Urine Pregnancy Test (hCG)
  • CAT
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg)
  • Hepatitis C Virus Antibody (HCV)
Parasitology

Microscopic and rapid detection of malaria parasites, trypanosomes, and leishmania.

  • Malaria Microscopy (Thick and Thin Blood Smears)
  • Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT)
  • Trypanosomes Blood Examination
  • Leishmania Diagnostic Examination
Routine Urine, Stool & Semen Analysis

Physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine, stool occult blood/parasites, and semen quality evaluation.

  • Urinalysis Chemical Dipstick
  • Urine Routine Sediment Microscopy
  • Stool Routine Microscopy
  • Modified Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) Stain
  • Faecal Occult Blood Test
  • Comprehensive Semen Analysis
Microbiology & Cultures

Culture, identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing across sterile fluids, swabs (including eye and ear swabs), sputum, stool, urine, and environmental water.

  • Skin Scrapings and Swabs Examination
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Culture and Sensitivity
  • Urine Microscopy, Culture and Sensitivity
  • Stool Microscopy, Culture and Sensitivity
  • Blood Culture and Sensitivity
  • Sputum Culture and Sensitivity
  • Pus Swab Culture and Sensitivity
  • Swab Culture and Sensitivity (including eye and ear swabs)
  • Sterile Body Fluids Culture and Sensitivity
  • Water Quality Bacteriological Analysis
Regional TB Reference Services

SADCAS ISO 15189:2022 accredited TB reference diagnostics: liquid/solid culture, first/second-line DST, LPA, and GeneXpert.

  • Liquid Culture (MGIT 960) for M. tuberculosis
  • Solid Culture (Löwenstein-Jensen)
  • First-Line and Second-Line Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST)
  • Line Probe Assays (LPA)
  • GeneXpert MTB/RIF Molecular Testing
  • Fluorescence and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) Smear Microscopy
  • Blood Culture for Disseminated TB
  • Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA)
Research Laboratory Services

Specialised analytical platforms supporting clinical trials, epidemiologic surveillance, vector biology, and collaborative research.

  • HIV Recency Testing (Ro)
  • Genital Swab PCR
  • Chlamydia/Gonorrhoea (CT/NG) Molecular Panel
  • Gonorrhoea Antigen Test
  • Chlamydia Antigen Test
  • Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) IgM Antibody Test
  • Measles IgG and IgM Serology
  • Rubella IgG Serology
  • COVID-19
  • TAT
  • Hepatitis B Core and e-Antigen (HBcAg, HBeAg)
  • Hepatitis A Virus (HAV)
  • Malaria PCR
  • Molecular Identification of Vectors
  • Direct Membrane Feeding Assay (DMFA)
  • In-vitro Parasite Culture
  • Mosquito Bleeding
  • Animal Bleeding
  • Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) – Breathe
  • Haemoglobinopathies
  • Body Composition Analysis (Fat Mass and Fat-Free Mass)

Before arranging a test

  1. 01

    Confirm the test and pathway

    Ask whether the requested test is available through the outpatient clinic, hospital referral, or specialized research pathway.

  2. 02

    Check the request requirements

    Confirm any doctor’s request form, patient fasting requirement, specimen container, or appointment guidelines prior to visit.

  3. 03

    Follow collection instructions

    Obtain preparation, sample collection, and result-access instructions directly from our qualified laboratory personnel.

  4. 04

    Agree practical details

    Confirm NHIMA coverage or private fee schedule, payment arrangements, and the expected turnaround time for results.

Automated laboratory testing equipment and diagnostics at NHRTI
Reference and research services

Laboratory expertise with a wider role

NHRTI hosts the National Health Research Reference Laboratory. The TB reference laboratory supports the national tuberculosis programme in Copperbelt, Luapula and North-Western provinces, providing culture confirmation, drug susceptibility testing, and genomic surveillance.

Scientific capabilities also encompass molecular methods, biobanking, vector biology, and specialised analytical testing connected with our research portfolio.

Explore Regional TB Reference Services

Quality and accreditation

Accreditation applies to the testing scope set out in the official certificate and schedule.

View accreditation information

Proficiency testing

Information for laboratories interested in NHRTI’s proficiency testing services.

Explore PTS