Which labs in Addis Ababa are accredited?
Other hospital labs on the list include Zewditu, ALERT, Teklehaimanot, Legehar and Ethio-Istanbul, each for one or two disciplines.
| Laboratory | Accredited for | Area | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsho Advanced Medical Laboratory | Haematology, hormones (endocrinology), serology, clinical chemistry | 10 branches, incl. 4 Kilo, Megenagna, Bole Bulbula | 612 or +251 11 416 71 20 |
| Bethzatha Advanced Medical Laboratory | Haematology, clinical chemistry | Kirkos, near Addis Ababa Stadium | +251 11 554 15 15 |
| Hema Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory | Haematology, clinical chemistry | CMC Road, near Gibson School | +251 11 645 07 95 |
| Wudassie Advanced Medical Laboratory | Haematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology | Arada, Churchill Road; open 24 h | +251 940 10 10 10 |
| Swiss Diagnostics Ethiopia | Haematology, clinical chemistry | Bole | +251 11 557 77 30 |
| ONCO Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory | Clinical chemistry | Addis Ababa | +251 949 04 88 88 |
| ICMC General Hospital laboratory | Clinical chemistry | CMC roundabout | +251 11 667 86 46 |
| Ethio Tebib General Hospital laboratory | Clinical chemistry, microbiology | Sefere Selam | +251 935 40 20 78 |
| St. Paul’s Hospital laboratory (public) | Microbiology, clinical chemistry | Gulele | +251 11 275 01 25 |
How do you check a lab’s accreditation?
Open the EAS directory of medical laboratories and find the lab by name. Read its disciplines: a lab accredited for haematology is not accredited for your thyroid test.
A lab missing from the list may hold another accreditation. Ask which one, and for which tests.
Can a nurse take the sample at home?
Yes. In Addis Ababa, Medyc sends a nurse to take your blood sample at home, with the prescription. Ask which lab will run your tests, and look it up on the EAS directory.
Your questions, answered
What is the best lab in Addis Ababa?
There is no official ranking. The objective check is ISO 15189 accreditation: Arsho, Bethzatha, Hema, Wudassie and Swiss Diagnostics hold it, each for named disciplines. Arsho is the only lab on the list accredited for hormone tests.
Is ICL (International Clinical Laboratories) accredited?
ICL is not on the EAS ISO 15189 directory. It states that it is accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI), a US body, and has 19 locations in Ethiopia. Ask which of your tests that accreditation covers.
What is the “Pastor” lab in Addis Ababa?
The former Institut Pasteur d’Éthiopie is now part of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), in Gulele near Pasteur Square. Its accredited labs are national reference laboratories: TB, HIV, clinical chemistry and bacteriology.
Which lab in Addis Ababa is open 24 hours?
Wudassie Diagnostic Center, on Churchill Road, says it works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with CT, MRI, X-ray and ultrasound too. Call +251 940 10 10 10 before you go.
Can I get a lab test without a prescription in Addis Ababa?
Most tests are done on a doctor’s request. Some labs accept your own request for some tests: call before you go.
Sources & further reading
- Ethiopian Accreditation Service (EAS): directory of accredited medical laboratories
- EAS: Arsho Advanced Medical Laboratory
- EAS: Bethzatha Advanced Medical Laboratory
- EAS: Hema Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory
- EAS: Swiss Diagnostics Ethiopia
- EAS: ONCO Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory, Addis Ababa
- EAS: ICMC General Hospital laboratory
- EAS: Ethio Tebib General Hospital laboratory
- Arsho Medical Laboratories: branches and hotline
- Wudassie Diagnostic Center: address and working hours
- International Clinical Laboratories (ICL): main laboratory and accreditation
- International Clinical Laboratories (ICL): locations in Ethiopia
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI): history and address
- Medyc: blood tests at home in Addis Ababa
- Medyc: hospitals, ambulances and pharmacies in Addis Ababa
This guide explains how to organise care. It does not provide a diagnosis or individual medical advice. How we write our guides
