- 18 Nov, 2025
- Gold
The NHLS is a national public entity established in terms of the National Health Laboratory Service Act, No. 37 of 2000, governed by a Board to provide quality, affordable, and sustainable health laboratory services, training, and research.
The NHLS is mandated to:
- Provide cost-effective and efficient Health Laboratory Services to all public sector healthcare providers
- Support and conduct Health Research, and
- Provide Training for Health Science Education in conjunction with medical facilities at universities and universities of technology.
The NHLS plays a major role in:
- Public health in South Africa through epidemiology, surveillance and outbreak response activities
- The national antiretroviral roll-out programme through Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4) and viral load studies and HIV treatment monitoring
- Diagnostic testing for non- communicable diseases
- Monitoring of tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment
- The screening for cervical cancer; and
- The support of occupational health services.
Our vision
A centre of excellence for innovative laboratory and clinical medicine.
Our mission
Our mission is to advance excellence in clinical and laboratory medicine by delivering accessible, affordable, and high-quality services. We are an employee-centred organisation that strives to provide patient-centred services while fostering community health and well-being through innovation, collaboration, and equity.