Cytespace Africa Laboratories has expanded its molecular testing capacity to meet growing demand from clinical trials across sub-Saharan Africa, following the installation of multiple high-throughput PCR systems at its central laboratory in South Africa.

The expansion is aimed at supporting an increasing volume of vaccine and therapeutic trials in infectious diseases and other indications, as global sponsors continue to scale research activity across the region. Cytespace Africa Labs is part of MLM Medical Labs and operates as a central laboratory serving clinical studies in multiple African countries.

The additional molecular platforms have tripled the laboratory’s diagnostic throughput, enabling fully automated, high-volume PCR testing with faster turnaround times. The expanded capability supports confirmatory and viral load testing for HIV-1 and HIV-2, quantitative testing for hepatitis B and C, and diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhea, mycoplasma and trichomonas. The systems are also used for HPV genotyping, respiratory pathogen panels, donor screening and transplant-related infections.

Sorika van Niekerk, managing director at Cytespace Africa Laboratories, said: “With our new platforms, we have significantly advanced our ability to deliver high-throughput, IVD-licensed molecular testing with rapid turnaround times. This allows us to support a broader range of clinical trial protocols while maintaining the quality and consistency sponsors require.”

Cytespace operates a one-roof laboratory model that integrates molecular diagnostics with flow cytometry, clinical chemistry, haematology and a biosafety level 3 facility. The site also manages kit building and sample logistics, including inbound and outbound shipments, allowing studies to centralise laboratory oversight and reduce delays during trial start-up.

The company said the investment strengthens its position as a regional laboratory partner for multinational clinical trials, particularly in high-burden disease areas such as HIV, viral hepatitis and respiratory infections. The laboratory operates in compliance with CAP and ISO 15189 standards and is backed by MLM Medical Labs’ global specialty laboratory network.

Scott Houlton, ceo of MLM Medical Labs, said: “As global sponsors increasingly turn to South Africa for clinical research, we are proud to invest in local capabilities that reduce complexity, cost and time to data. Cytespace Africa Laboratories is well positioned to support scalable trial operations across priority therapeutic areas.”

The expansion comes as sponsors and CROs seek laboratory partners with established regulatory compliance, regional expertise and the ability to manage complex molecular testing requirements across multiple countries. Cytespace said the enhanced capacity is intended to support faster enrolment, improved data quality and more efficient trial execution throughout sub-Saharan Africa.