Quality Survilance Laboratory (QSL)

Location of the Laboratory

The QSL is located on plot 11 Voigt Street, on the same premises as the Government Stores, in the Southern Industrial Area of Windhoek. It shares the same compound with the Central Medical Stores of the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

Main functions

The main functions of the QSL are to:

a)      Analyse medicines for Central Medical Stores to ascertain the level of quality and efficacy of medicines for batch release

b)      Analyse samples for registration

c)      Analyse samples for inspection

d)     Carry out post-marketing surveillance activities and adhoc testing

e)      Carry out proficiency testing with WHO and other regional bodies

f)       Conduct training programs involving students/analysts from local institutions

g)      Attend meetings and providing data and advice on the quality of medicines to policy makers involved in medicines safety issues

The laboratory works in conjunction with TIPC to:

a)      To examine pharmaceutical products suspected to be of questionable efficacy or safety

b)      To analyse and document any evidence of deterioration, contamination, or adulteration

The tests carried out at QSL

These include:

• Identification

• Friability

• Dissolution

• Uniformity of weight

• pH

• Uniformity of content

• Assay

• Loss on drying

Instruments available

Major instruments at QSL are:

1. Automated HPLC

2. Dissolution Testing Equipment

3. UV-Visible Spectrophotometer

4. Disintegration Testing Equipment

5. Potentiometric Titrator

6. pH meters

Accreditation

The laboratory is striving to get accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 standards through the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS).