Infectious Disease Trials,
Accelerated in Africa.
A Strategic Advantage for Sponsors Seeking Speed, Diversity, and Scientific Rigor in Infectious Disease Trials
The infectious disease drug development pipeline now surpasses that of both cardiovascular and immunology combined—and continues to accelerate. From antimicrobial resistance to emerging pathogens and viral epidemics, sponsors face growing urgency to bring infectious disease treatments and vaccines to market.
But urgency brings complexity. Trials demand faster site activation, access to diverse and treatment-naïve patient populations, and scientifically validated, regulatory-compliant data—all without sacrificing quality or speed.
MLM Medical Labs and Cytespace Africa Laboratories bring it all together. We accelerate timelines, expand access across Africa, and deliver end-to-end central lab support—without compromise. Seamlessly. Globally. Strategically.
Accelerated Infectious Disease Trials—From Pretoria to the World
Infectious disease trials often struggle to balance global requirements with regional realities. Sponsors face tight timelines, regulatory pressures, and the growing need to include diverse, treatment-naïve patient populations. At the same time, lab partners must deliver speed, accuracy, and consistency—without sacrificing scientific rigor.
That’s exactly where MLM Medical Labs and Cytespace Africa Laboratories thrive.
With a fully CAP-accredited facility in Pretoria, embedded logistics networks across 17 countries, and integrated SOPs with MLM’s global lab network, we enable sponsors to activate trials quickly, collect high-integrity data, and streamline cross-border execution—all from one centralized command center in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Core Benefits of Our African Central Lab Platform:
■ Faster startup timelines through in-region kit production, site support, and regulatory familiarity
■ Diverse patient access across Sub-Saharan Africa
■ Single-source lab partnership integrated with MLM’s operations in Europe and North America
■ Full-service support from first sample to final database lock
■ Overnight sample delivery within South Africa for reduced TATs
■ Single global database through MLM’s global informatics platform
Our Cytespace Africa Laboratories facility doesn’t operate in isolation. It’s fully integrated with MLM’s global quality systems, scientific teams, and data management workflows—so you get the operational efficiency of a local lab with the oversight and audit readiness of a global one.
Whether you’re running a vaccine trial, infectious disease therapeutic protocol, or regional epidemiology study, this integration means you don’t have to choose between speed and standards. You get both.
Where Infectious Disease Trials Demand More, We Deliver.
What sets this partnership apart isn’t just reach—it’s readiness. Sponsors aren’t simply gaining geographic access, they’re tapping into a lab network purpose-built for infectious disease trials, with infrastructure and expertise that match the complexity and urgency of today’s global studies.
We operate at the intersection of scientific depth and operational discipline. Our infrastructure enables us to support everything from high-throughput testing to exploratory biomarker development—making us an ideal partner for both large-scale trials and precision protocols.
Specialized Infrastructure Includes:
■ Two Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) for complex infectious disease research
■ Complete TB diagnostics under one roof: smear microscopy, culture (LJ + MGIT™), DST, MIC
■ On-site GeneXpert®, LAM ELISA, and ELISPOT capabilities
■ Ability to serve as both local reference and global central lab
Where Infectious Disease Trials Demand More, We’re Built to Deliver
Infectious disease trials demand more than generalized testing capabilities. We bring deep experience in disease-specific assays that reflect the therapeutic landscape in Africa—while maintaining the scientific rigor global sponsors require. Whether you’re running a vaccine study, a therapeutic regimen, or an early diagnostic protocol, our assay portfolio and validation experience reduce risk from day one.
Validated Assay Capabilities Cover:
■ HIV viral load, confirmation, and antibody screening
■ HCV and HBV PCR diagnostics
■ QuantiFERON® TB Gold Plus for latent TB
■ Multiplex STD panels (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Trichomonas)
■ SARS-CoV-2 PCR for COVID-related studies
■ Flow cytometry for CD4/CD8 immune profiling in HIV trials
■ Custom assay development for sponsor-defined endpoints
Behind these services is a team of scientists, project leads, and operational experts who bring not only technical expertise but regional fluency. We’ve built trust across hundreds of trials by delivering with speed, accuracy, and transparency—critical in studies where every sample and timeline matters.
Experience at Scale:
■ Over 1,250 clinical trials completed
■ More than 950,000 patients supported
■ GCP- and GCLP-certified teams with decades of infectious disease focus
■ Cytespace Africa Laboratories’ 98% employee retention rate ensures consistency across projects
Operational readiness doesn’t stop at the lab bench. Our logistics teams, kit-building specialists, and project managers ensure that what’s needed on site—kits, labels, manuals, import/export clearances—is ready before first patient in. That means fewer delays, lower risk, and faster go-live.
Operational Strengths Include:
■ Protocol-specific kit building for accuracy and consistency
■ Validated cold-chain shipping across Sub-Saharan Africa
■ Overnight sample delivery within South Africa
■ End-to-end specimen tracking and chain-of-custody controls
Every result we generate is backed by a quality system designed for global oversight. Our lab is certified and accredited to the highest international standards, and we’ve built digital systems, audit pathways, and SOP frameworks to ensure data integrity across every stage of the trial lifecycle.
Quality Credentials:
■ Fully CAP-accredited — the only such central lab in South Africa
■ ISO 15189 certified
■ Fully aligned with ICH GCP, WHO GCLP, and sponsor audit standards
■ Digitally managed SOPs, CAPAs, QC systems, and document control (CEREBRO)
Talk to Our Infectious Disease Lab Experts
Let’s talk strategy, timelines, and how MLM + Cytespace Africa Laboratories can deliver what your study demands—start to finish. CONTACT US to get the conversation started.
