IVCC partner research facility achieves GLP Certification

Image Credit: IRSS-DRO

We’re very excited to announce that the Insecticide Testing Facility at the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé/Direction Régionale de l’Ouest (IRSS/DRO) in Burkina Faso has become the seventh IVCC partner in Africa to achieve Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) certification. This milestone, certified by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS), marks a significant achievement for the facility, led by Professor Abdoulaye Diabaté.

As a long-standing research partner of IVCC, the IRSS/DRO facility has played a crucial role in evaluating novel and repurposed insecticides and new malaria vector control products. Their work, particularly against highly insecticide-resistant mosquito populations in the Vallée du Kou, has been instrumental in generating essential efficacy data for manufacturers, including submissions to the WHO Prequalification Unit Vector Control Product Assessment Team (PQT/VCP). Since 2016, IVCC has supported the IRSS/DRO facility in its journey to full GLP compliance. This support included funding essential infrastructure improvements, purchasing necessary equipment, and providing targeted training for key staff. These efforts have developed strong GLP awareness and ensured the facility’s compliance with OECD principles. After 8 years of hard work, IVCC is happy to join with the Insecticide Testing Facility of IRSS/DRO in celebrating their success.

Professor Abdoulaye Diabaté commented: “This tremendous achievement by the team will be key for the visibility of the IRSS/DRO Insecticide Testing Facility both within Burkina Faso and internationally. The GLP certification of the facility will help to increase the confidence that companies, malaria control programmes and other organisations have in our research. We anticipate an increase in demand for the IRSS/DRO Insecticide Testing Facility to carry out laboratory and field trials as part of the fight against malaria and neglected tropical diseases. The institute has built a very strong working relationship with different communities in the field where conditions are ideal for the conduct of experimental hut and community trials. The data we generate are also used to inform and orient the decisions made by the Burkina Faso Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene towards malaria elimination”.