The National Reference Laboratory (NRA) has acquired a five-star status following a rating done by the East Africa Public Health Laboratory Network (EAPHLN).

The facility scored 98.7 per cent that saw it move from the three-star rating it had last year.Ivan Emile Mwikarago, the division manager of the NRA, said the ranking was done in line with the World Health Organisation standards check list.

"Aspects like records management, state of art equipment, and style of management helped us earn that position,” said Mwikarago during a workshop in Kigali on Saturday.

Dr Agnes Binagwaho, the Minister for Health said the rating gives the ministry reason to invite international assessors, so the lab can get global certification.

The annual exercise also saw five other satellite (upcountry) laboratories attain four-star status including Gisenyi,Gihundwe, Byumba,Nyagatare and Kibungo.

According Mwikarago, the status makes the laboratory a world class facility with ability to host international clinical trials and operational research once accredited by global assessors.

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