Field Research. Real-World Impact.
For over two decades, Epicentre has been Africa's trusted partner for field research, diagnostic device evaluation and public health programmes. The same research-grade infrastructure powers every walk-in patient test.
How Our Research Benefits You
Epicentre Research NPC (est. 2001) has published over 65 peer-reviewed papers in The Lancet HIV, JAMA Network Open, Nature and PLOS Medicine. What does that mean if you are walking into our lab for a blood test or ordering a home kit?
The same laboratory infrastructure. The GCP- and GCLP-certified processes developed for published clinical research are applied to every walk-in patient test. You are not using a separate "commercial" lab – you are using the research lab. The equipment, the protocols and the quality control are identical.
Research-grade accuracy. PCR panels developed through Epicentre's own STI, HPV and gut health studies have been validated against reference standards in peer-reviewed publications. When you take an STI test at Epicentre, the panel design comes from the same team that published the validation data.
Quality assurance beyond commercial standards. Dr Veron Ramsuran oversees the STI PCR lab. Invalid samples are flagged proactively. Urine and swab material can be combined to improve DNA yield. Free resampling is provided if a sample is technically insufficient. These protocols exist because research demands them – and every walk-in patient benefits from them.
ODx functional health reports. Your blood results are analysed against functional health ranges, not just pathological thresholds. The ODx report identifies markers drifting away from optimal before they become clinical problems. This is included free with every blood test – a level of analysis most private labs charge extra for or do not offer at all.
Your Privacy Is Absolute
Epicentre is a research organisation and a walk-in diagnostic lab. These are two separate operations. Your walk-in test results are yours alone. They are never shared with researchers, never included in studies, and never used for any purpose beyond delivering your results to you.
No data leaves without your written consent. Your results are sent only to you via your chosen method (email or WhatsApp). They are not shared with employers, insurance companies, medical aid schemes, family members or anyone else without your explicit, signed consent. All data is protected under POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act).
Anonymous testing is available. You can test under a pseudonym at any branch. No ID, no passport, no medical aid number required. Pay cash and there is no record of your visit on any system other than Epicentre's own confidential database. Full anonymous testing guide.
Research participation is always voluntary. If Epicentre is running a study and you happen to be eligible, you may be invited to participate. Participation is never required, never assumed, and never a condition of receiving your test results. If you do participate, informed consent is obtained through a formal ethics-approved process. If you decline, your care is not affected in any way.
Example: The South African Genome Project. When you test at Epicentre, you can choose to contribute your anonymised sample to the South African Genome Project, a national initiative to build a genomic reference for the South African population. Participation is entirely optional. If you sign up, no names and no contact details are shared with researchers. Your sample is stripped of all identifying information before it leaves Epicentre. You sign a consent form that explains exactly what happens to your data. You can withdraw at any time. This is what voluntary, privacy-first research participation looks like in practice.
In practical terms: when you test at Epicentre, you are tested by the same team, in the same lab, with the same protocols that produced research accepted by the world's leading medical journals. No other walk-in lab in South Africa can say that. Book a walk-in test or order a home kit.
Four Ways to Work With Us
From commissioning a full field study to sourcing a specific diagnostic device for your trial – Epicentre has the infrastructure, the relationships and the institutional memory to deliver.
Field Research Implementation
End-to-end research management: study design, ethical approvals, participant recruitment, data collection and reporting across all 9 South African provinces.
Diagnostic Device Evaluation
Formal clinical evaluations of rapid diagnostic devices, PCR technologies and point-of-care innovations. WHO, FIND and NICD protocols. Localisation for the South African market.
Medical Device Sourcing
Need a specific medical device for your study? Epicentre sources and supplies validated diagnostic equipment including the TAP microsampling device, rapid test kits and PCR consumables.
M&E and Data Analysis
Biostatistics and data management teams translate complex field data into clear, actionable insights. M&E frameworks, impact reporting and health strategy consulting.
Why Researchers Keep Coming Back
20+ years of institutional memory. Epicentre's teams have been doing this since 2001. That depth means ethics approvals move faster, site relationships are already established, and community trust is pre-built.
Long-term partner relationships. WHO, FIND, NICD and SAMRC have been working with Epicentre for years – not because they have to, but because delivery is consistent and data quality is reliable.
Urban and rural field capability. Teams operate across all 9 South African provinces with staff who understand community dynamics, local languages and the practical realities of fieldwork in under-resourced settings.
GCP and GCLP certified. Every study follows Good Clinical Practice and Good Clinical Laboratory Practice guidelines with full South African ethics board review. SANAS-accredited laboratory partners.
Research Focus Areas
HIV, TB and STIs
Prevention, diagnostics, community engagement and treatment adherence across all 9 provinces.
Respiratory Disease
Rapid test evaluation, surveillance and diagnostic validation for respiratory pathogens including COVID-19.
Chronic and Metabolic Health
Diabetes, cardiovascular, thyroid and metabolic health studies with community and clinical populations.
Sexual and Reproductive Health
HPV, fertility, hormonal health, cervical cancer screening and inclusive sexual health research.
Trusted By
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Epicentre's research benefit walk-in patients?
What has Epicentre published?
How can organisations partner with Epicentre?
What certifications does Epicentre hold?
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Is my walk-in test data used for research?
Research Partners
Commission field research, evaluate a diagnostic device, or discuss a study.
Walk-In Patients
Research-grade testing. No doctor's referral. 15 minutes.
Durban (Hillcrest) · Cape Town (Observatory) · Johannesburg (Parktown North) · Mon – Fri, 08:30 – 16:00 · Practice #1117394
Epicentre Walk-In Labs does not provide medical diagnoses. For diagnoses and advice, consult your healthcare practitioner.