The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) is a dynamic and focused health service provider of cost-effective and professional laboratory medicine through competent, qualified professionals and state-of-the-art technology, supported by academic and internationally recognised research, teaching and training, and product development to maximise health care delivery in South Africa.

The NHLS is the largest diagnostic pathology service in South Africa with the responsibility of supporting the National and Provincial Departments of Health in the delivery of health care. The NHLS provides laboratory and related public health services to over 80% of the population through a national network of approximately 265 laboratories, across nine provinces. In partnership with universities and universities of technology, the NHLS invests significantly in education and training in the health sciences. All pathologists in South Africa are trained by the NHLS; and medical scientists, technologists and technicians in all pathology disciplines, as well as occupational health practitioners, receive training through the NHLS. Many of the 6 700 employees of NHLS are internationally renowned scientists who contribute to cutting edge medical research, in particular, by conducting research which is specific to South African health questions.

The NHLS has the following specialised divisions:
• National Institute for Communicable Diseases
• National Institute for Occupational Health
• National Cancer Registry
• Antivenom Unit

National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD)

The NICD investigates communicable diseases and provides expertise to southern African regions regarding outbreak and communicable disease burdens, such as respiratory and diarrhoeal

diseases, meningitis, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The NICD undertakes research focused on questions related to communicable diseases in southern Africa and it aims to build capacity in this field.

National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH)

The NIOH promotes good occupational health practice in southern Africa and investigates work-related diseases. The NIOH provides a range of services to support occupational health, including the statutory autopsy service, advisory services, information services, specialised laboratories, health hazard evaluations, teaching and training, and research.

National Cancer Registry

The National Cancer Registry gathers cancer data from private and public pathology laboratories in South Africa. The Registry plays a vital role in maintaining and developing national and international

awareness of the enormous and ever-increasing problem of cancer in the South African population.

Antivenom Unit

The Antivenom Unit is housed within the South African Vaccine Producers, a wholly owned subsidiary of the NHLS. The Antivenom Unit is the sole southern African producer of equine antivenoms for the treatment of bites from eleven of the most medically important snakes prevalent in southern and other regions of Africa, as well as for spider bites and scorpion stings. The Antivenom Unit supplies horse, sheep and goat blood/serum for use in the production of diagnostic media and reagents.

www.nhls.ac.za