Seoul, Republic of Korea SRL

Description

KIT is the research and laboratory body of KNTA, The Korean National Tuberculosis Association. KIT performs professional tuberculosis tests for clinical needs and national TB program, epidemiologic research and diagnostic inventional studies cooperating various medical companies. KIT participates in official development assistance of Korean goverment for underdeveloped countries.

Structure and organization

KIT is the central lab of KNTA, overall 59 researchers and special pathologists are engaged. KIT has three main departments, dep. of laboratory (KIT lab, below), dep. of R&D and dep of International Cooperation. KIT has a domestic network of 12 regional KNTA centers for TB treatment and diagnosis.

Services provided by the SRL

KIT lab performes most of studies for TB/NTM including smear, solid and liquid based cultures, molecular ID and DST (real time pcr, line probe assay et al) for TB and NTM, phenotype DST for TB and NTM, et al.

Current links and partnerships outside of SRLN

KIT lab supports Laos National TB Reference Laboratory as the SRL. KIT lab also support Mongolian NCCD lab for the STOP TB mongolian project led by KNTA. KIT engaged to set up the East Timor reference TB lab supported by KOFIH.