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11 February 2021 Photo UFS photo archive
The National Control Laboratory for Biological Products (NCL) Building.
There can be no compromise when it comes to the quality of medicines made available to the public.

The UFS-based National Control Laboratory for Biological Products (NCL) is a full member of the international WHO-National Control Laboratory Network for Biologicals and one of 12 laboratories worldwide contracted to perform vaccine testing for the World Health Organisation (WHO). The NCL is also the only vaccine-testing laboratory in the country that performs the final quality-control testing of all human vaccine batches marketed in South Africa on behalf of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).

In its role as a vaccine-testing laboratory for the WHO, the NCL helps to ensure that the vaccines purchased through the WHO prequalification programme for international distribution to resource-limited countries, meet the high standards of quality, safety, and efficiency. 

International testing standards

The laboratory received the status of a pharmaceutical testing laboratory after the South African Accreditation System (SANAS) endorsed its quality-management systems as of a high standard according to the International Standards Organisation’s requirements.

With its international testing standards, the NCL must ensure that all its operations – from the way documents are compiled and stored, to the maintenance of equipment and infrastructure, as well as staff competency – are performed according to international guidelines.

The laboratory has all the quality systems in place to ensure high-quality test results. The certificate of Good Manufacturing Compliance received in 2019 indicates that laboratory testing is on the expected level for any pharmaceutical testing laboratory and manufacturer. This certification is very strict and means that the NCL complies with exceptionally strict standards for pharmaceutical labs anywhere in the world. The certification offers the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, the WHO, and other national control laboratories around the world the confidence that the test results from the NCL can be trusted.

Licensed as pharmaceutical manufacturer

The laboratory is also licensed as a pharmaceutical manufacturer. Although the lab does not manufacture, it needs to comply with manufacturing standards. It is rare for a pharmaceutical testing laboratory (such as the NCL) outside of a manufacturing context to qualify for both certifications.

News Archive

Intravarsity starts with a rhythm!
2012-05-04

 

Students on our Bloemfontein Campus took part in a flashmob at the start of Intravarsity.
Photo: Hannes Pieterse
4 May 2012

Photo Gallery
Programme (pdf format)

It is Kovsie against Kovsie today and Saturday, 4 and 5 May 2012, with students from our Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses competing against each other during Intravarsity.

The inter-campus competition replaces the Intervarsity 2012 programme and will be held on the Bloemfontein Campus. The annual Intervarsity between the Universities of the Free State and North-West (NWU), which traditionally takes place in the third term, has been postponed to 2013.

Students from the two campuses will compete in sports activities like basketball, cross country, netball and soccer. Arts and culture, and leadership events between the two campuses are also planned.

The action started at 14:00 today. At 15:30, residence soccer teams take to the field and later, at 18:40, there is a debating competition.

Saturday’s activities include a leadership breakfast for student leaders and a Wheelchair Rally that takes place in the Kovsie Student Church parking area. The big sporting event for the day is the men and ladies soccer teams from the two campuses taking each other on. The programme concludes with an Intravarsity Music festival starting at 18:30 and continuing until 24:00.

Friday 4 May 2012 has been scheduled as a lecture-free day and Monday 7 May 2012 as a test-free day.

 

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