Riders for Health are pioneers in sample transport (otherwise known as specimen transport) for health focused organisations across Sub Saharan Africa.
Laboratory tests that diagnose diseases or other conditions are vital to patient’s successful treatment and an important part of any healthcare system. But transport for samples and test results are sometimes an afterthought.
Blood, urine, or other tissues or bodily substances are sensitive and degrade quickly. In many parts of Africa lack of road networks, difficult terrain, long distances and extreme weather conditions, along with a lack of reliable motorised transport mean that the challenge of getting samples to labs quickly and while still in a good condition is acute.
Riders provide sample transport for well over one million samples and results per year. Our motorcycle courier system is used by ministries of health and other agencies to transport patient samples and results reliably and with the necessary speed between primary health facilities and testing laboratories.
The Riders system is unique. We are experts in choosing appropriate vehicles as well as training couriers to handle samples and to ride and help maintain their vehicles.
Our motorcycle courier system is used by ministries of health and other agencies to transport patient samples and test results reliably and quickly. This mean that the time is reduced between the primary health facility and the laboratory so the patient can be put on treatment faster.
All couriers are trained in the safe handling of hazardous substances. Sample transport vehicles are served by our maintenance programme ensuring they are always available.
We provide sample transport as routine, but it can also be deployed quickly in a country in the case of an emergency or epidemic.
2023 Riders Sample Transport figures
