Caribbean countries strengthen laboratory systems and technologies to address Antimicrobial Resistance

Bridgetown, Barbados, 8 April 2026 (PAHO/WHO) - The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), in collaboration with regional and international partners, today launched the Caribbean Training Workshop on Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and new technologies for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Characterization, a three-day capacity building initiative aimed at strengthening laboratory services, data integration, and regional cooperation for AMR surveillance in the Caribbean.

The opening ceremony of the workshop highlighted the critical role of laboratory innovation, quality data systems, and regional solidarity in addressing AMR as a growing public health threat.

Dr. Amalia Del Riego, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, providing opening remarks.

The PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, Dr. Amalia Del Riego, emphasized PAHO/WHO's continued commitment to supporting countries in strengthening laboratory capacity and advancing integrated AMR surveillance systems.

"The introduction of advanced diagnostic technologies, together with robust laboratory information management systems, requires coordinated regional capacity-building. While only some Caribbean countries will receive technologies such as Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) or infrared systems in this initial phase, a strong regional cooperation model allows us to ensure more equitable access, through shared analysis, harmonized workflows, and technical exchange," said Dr. Del Riego.

Antimicrobial resistance continues to pose a serious risk to public health globally and in the Caribbean, contributing to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Persistent gaps in diagnostic capacity, laboratory standardization, quality management, and data integration limit the effectiveness of AMR surveillance systems in the region. Strengthening laboratory technologies alongside robust digital information systems is essential to generate reliable, timely data to inform clinical care, public health action, and policy-making.

Dr. John Stelling, Co-Director of WHO Collaborating Centre.

Dr. John Stelling, Co-Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance underscored the importance of dependable data collection, informing that "it's very important to be able to provide reliable data to the different stakeholders at local, regional, national levels. With Caribbean collaborations, what happens on one island is very relevant for what happens also in the region."

Dr. Songee Beckles, Director of the Best Dos Santos Public Health Laboratory.

Dr. Songee Beckles, Director of the Best Dos Santos Public Health Laboratory welcomed participants and highlighted Barbados and the Caribbean's move to improve the detection and surveillance of AMR in the region.

"We have a lot of work to do, and this workshop is especially timely, it will help us to enhance what we do locally and what others are doing in their respective territories, especially with all the different systems available on the market including WHONET which we use to our advantage to enhance and improve what we do here."

The workshop builds on ongoing regional efforts led by PAHO/WHO, CARPHA, and partners to modernize laboratory services, including the introduction of advanced diagnostic technologies such as MALDITOF mass spectrometry and infrared (IR) spectrometry, and the strengthening of LIMS. Together, these tools support the full AMR data pathway, from pathogen detection and characterization to reporting and analysis, while improving interoperability with regional and global surveillance platforms, including ReLAVRA+ and the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS).

The initiative also reflects the value of strong public-private partnerships, particularly with the French firm bioMérieux and the U.S.-based company Bruker, whose technical support and services have been instrumental in ensuring that advanced laboratory equipment is fully utilized across Caribbean countries to strengthen AMR surveillance efforts.

Over the three days, participants from across the Caribbean will engage in lectures, system demonstrations, hands-on laboratory and data analysis sessions, and group discussions facilitated by experts from PAHO/WHO, CARPHA, WHO Collaborating Centres, national reference laboratories, academic institutions, and industry partners.

The workshop is supported through financial contributions from the Fleming Fund and the Pandemic Fund for Eastern Caribbean Countries, reflecting continued international commitment to strengthening laboratory systems, regional cooperation, and health security in the Caribbean.

Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity to implement and optimize LIMS solutions, improved technical proficiency in advanced AMR diagnostic technologies, harmonized regional workflows for AMR surveillance, and strengthened collaboration among Caribbean countries to support sustainable and coordinated AMR response efforts.

Cross section of participants

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