Latest news with #laboratoryservices
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Labcorp Holdings Earnings Preview: What to Expect
Burlington, North Carolina-based Labcorp Holdings Inc. (LH) provides laboratory services to doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers and patients. With a market cap of $20.6 billion, the company operates through two segments, Diagnostics Laboratories and Biopharma Laboratory Services. LH is scheduled to report its Q2 earnings on Thursday, July 24, before the market opens. Ahead of the event, analysts expect the company to report a profit of $4.14 per share, representing a 5.1% increase from $3.94 per share in the same quarter of the previous year. The company has surpassed Wall Street's bottom-line estimates in each of the past four quarters. More News from Barchart Insider Trading Alert: Here's Who Bought Nvidia and AMD Stock Before the U.S. Chip Deal with China Dear Tesla Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for July 23 Robinhood Keeps Hitting New Highs. How Should You Play HOOD Stock Here? Stop Missing Market Moves: Get the FREE Barchart Brief – your midday dose of stock movers, trending sectors, and actionable trade ideas, delivered right to your inbox. Sign Up Now! For fiscal 2025, analysts expect LH to report earnings of $16.05 per share, up 10.2% from $14.57 in fiscal 2024. Moreover, the earnings are expected to rise 9.6% year-over-year to $17.59 per share in fiscal 2026. LH stock has grown 14.6% over the past 52 weeks, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 12.7% gain and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLV) 11.8% decline over the same time frame. LH shares rose 4.7% following the release of its Q1 earnings on Apr. 29. The company posted a revenue of $3.4 billion, driven by a 6% growth in its Diagnostics Laboratories business to $2.6 billion, but fell behind the Street's estimates. Moreover, its adjusted EPS of $3.84 beat the consensus estimate by 3%. Analysts' consensus opinion on LH stock is highly optimistic, with an overall 'Strong Buy' rating. Out of 17 analysts covering the stock, 14 advise a 'Strong Buy' rating and three recommend a 'Hold.' The stock's average analyst price target is $281.94, indicating a 14% potential upside from the current levels. On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on
Zawya
3 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
Africa Launches Continental Strategy to Decentralize Diagnostics and Accelerate Outbreak Response
In a major step toward faster and more localized outbreak response, Africa CDC convened public health leaders from ten African countries in Yaoundé to co-develop a continental framework for decentralizing laboratory services. The four-day workshop, which began on 14 July, placed equitable access to diagnostics at the core of Africa's epidemic preparedness and response strategy. Organized by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Cameroon, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the European Union, the workshop brought together government officials, national laboratory directors, and public health experts from across the continent. Together, they produced the Continental Guidance for the Decentralization of Laboratory Services—a practical, action-oriented tool to help Member States design national diagnostic strategies that bring testing closer to communities and improve outbreak detection and response. 'Member States cannot respond effectively to outbreaks if diagnostic capacity is limited to national reference laboratories. Detection capabilities must be decentralized to sub-national levels and below to enhance early warning surveillance and timely confirmation of disease threats,' said Dr. Yenew Kebede Tebeje, Acting Director, Centre for Laboratory Diagnostics and Systems, Africa CDC. 'Decentralized laboratory services are also essential for achieving Universal Health Coverage.' Dr. Kakambi Christelle, a senior official from Cameroon's Ministry of Public Health, shared the country's approach to decentralizing diagnostics for epidemic-prone diseases. This includes strengthening regional laboratories, training personnel, establishing a national sample transport system, and conducting lab mapping to improve surveillance. 'Laboratory detection is the first line of defense in identifying potential outbreaks. Decentralizing labs widens the net, increasing our chances of catching the culprit pathogen early and guiding timely public health action,' said Rachel Achilla, WHO AFRO representative. Delegations from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) demonstrated how Mpox diagnostic capacity was expanded from just two laboratories to 56 in Burundi and 27 in DRC—within a single year—dramatically improving detection and case management. 'One of the key lessons learned from recent epidemics in Africa is the strategic value of decentralizing diagnostics to overcome sample transport delays and accelerate response,' noted Professor Pembe Issamou Mayengue, researcher at the National Public Health Laboratory, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. However, participants acknowledged that decentralization is not without challenges. While it brings diagnostics closer to communities, it also multiplies the burden on fragile health systems—particularly where data integration, trained personnel, equipment maintenance, supply chain management, electricity, and internet access remain unresolved. 'National Public Health Laboratories serve as the backbone of laboratory services decentralization by setting standards, guiding policy, ensuring quality, and mentoring peripheral laboratories. Their leadership is critical to building a resilient, responsive system,' emphasized Gifty Boateng, a public health researcher and academic from Ghana. Over four days, participants co-developed a practical, adaptive guideline rooted in African realities and global good practices. The document offers strategic orientations to help countries implement decentralization in ways that ensure ownership, institutional integration, and sustainability. 'If we move from two laboratories with chronic issues in sample collection, data flow, infrastructure weakness, and supply chain bottlenecks, decentralizing laboratories means multiplying these challenges in proportion to the expansion,' warned Yao Selom, Unit Lead for Laboratory Systems and Networks at Africa CDC. 'Our presence here is essential to guide, alert, and support Member States in identifying what to consider, how to prepare, and how to move forward.' This initiative is part of the Partnership to Accelerate Mpox and Other Outbreaks Testing and Sequencing in Africa (PAMTA) program, launched by Africa CDC and ASLM, and co-funded by the European Union through the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), and administered by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). It contributes to a broader continental effort to strengthen diagnostics, build technical capacity, and improve readiness for epidemic threats across Africa. Together, we can detect faster, respond smarter, and save lives! Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Zawya
18-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Zimbabwe Revamps Labs Plan with Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) support
Zimbabwe looks forward to revamping its health infrastructure, technological tools, and skills development following a new five-year plan for national laboratories. In a major step towards strengthening laboratory systems across the continent, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), with funding from the World Bank, supported Zimbabwe in the successful revision of its National Health Laboratory Strategic Plan (2025–2030). The plan was developed at a multi-stakeholder workshop held from 10 to 24 March 2025 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. 'Laboratory services are the backbone of any resilient healthcare system, providing essential support for accurate diagnosis, disease surveillance, and effective treatment,' said Donewell Bangure, Senior Epidemiologist coordinating Africa CDC's Quality Management Systems Program. A robust Laboratory Strategic Plan is a national blueprint for the organization, strengthening, and sustainability of laboratory services, he said. 'It ensures alignment with public health priorities and facilitates efficient resource allocation, capacity building, and partnerships. For Zimbabwe, and by extension the African continent, the updated plan represents a renewed commitment to building resilient health systems capable of addressing both current and emerging public health threats,' Bangure added. Zimbabwe's previous National Laboratory Strategic Plan expired in 2021, and recognizing the urgency to modernize the country's laboratory framework, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) partnered with Africa CDC to lead the revision process. Zimbabwe's new National Health Laboratory Strategic Plan (2025–2030) sets out to strengthen the country's laboratory systems by improving infrastructure, staffing, quality, and digital systems. Key goals include expanding Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) to 80% of facilities, accrediting central, provincial, and district laboratories, and securing at least 70% of required funding. The plan, led by the Ministry of Health with support from Africa CDC, introduces new elements such as a One Health approach, public-private partnerships, and the use of AI and digital tools. It replaces the expired 2021 plan with a broader, more coordinated strategy to respond to current and future public health threats. The new plan will help Zimbabwe meet its public health and epidemiological needs, clinical health, and the provision of safe blood and blood products, national reference laboratory function, quality assurance, teaching, and research. Experts from across Africa praised Zimbabwe's revised plan for its strategic scope, alignment with international standards, and potential to drive investment in resilient laboratory systems. 'The development of Zimbabwe's Laboratory Strategic Plan embraced the One Health approach, which recognizes the vital connection between human, animal, and environmental health,' said Dr. Eugene Bwalya, a renowned veterinary surgeon from the University of Zambia. 'Strengthening lab services across these sectors is essential for comprehensive public health preparedness and response.' Dr. Nyambura Moremi, Director of the National Public Health Laboratory in Tanzania, added, 'This plan is a model for how African countries can build resilient laboratory systems aligned with international standards.' Dr. Talkmore Maruta, Director of Programs at the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), emphasized, 'Strategic plans like Zimbabwe's are critical for attracting investment and guiding sustainable laboratory development.' Dr. Patrick Mateta, past Vice President of the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), warned, 'Without clear national roadmaps, countries risk fragmented systems that cannot respond effectively to health threats.' Echoing this, Dr. Kingsley Odiabara, former Director of Laboratory Services in Nigeria, stated, 'A functional lab system is the bedrock of health security. Zimbabwe's plan shows the kind of leadership the continent urgently needs.' Given the dynamic nature of public health challenges, it is critical that Member States maintain updated and responsive laboratory strategic plans, Bangure explained. He said Africa CDC is committed to supporting Member States like Zimbabwe to ensure their laboratory networks are well-prepared for the future. A strong laboratory system is essential not just for national health security, but for the collective resilience of the entire African continent. 'We are sincerely grateful to Africa CDC for its technical and financial support in revising Zimbabwe's National Health Laboratory Strategic Plan. This noble gesture has set a clear path for strengthening our laboratory services and improving healthcare delivery for all Zimbabweans,' said Dr. Raiva Simbi, Director of Laboratory Services at the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Africa CDC's support to Zimbabwe is part of a broader continental initiative to strengthen laboratory systems. Similar assistance has already been extended to Somalia, Seychelles, and Malawi, each of which now boasts updated Laboratory Strategic Plans through Africa CDC's support. This demonstrates Africa CDC's unwavering commitment to elevating public health infrastructure across Africa, building resilience against infectious diseases, and achieving health security for all. 'As Africa continues to face dynamic health challenges, from pandemics to antimicrobial resistance, the significance of strategic, well-coordinated laboratory systems cannot be overstated,' said Bangure. The successful revision of Zimbabwe's Laboratory Strategic Plan is a testament to the power of collaboration, vision, and investment in public health systems. Updated roadmaps are expected to guide Zimbabwe and other Member States to be better equipped to deliver timely, accurate, and quality laboratory services, safeguarding the health of millions across the continent. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
