Located on the campus of Antananarivo University, it is affiliated with the School of Medicine under the direction of Professor Luc Hervé Samison. The laboratory conducts infectious disease research (respiratory diseases, parasitic diseases, fevers, etc.) and trains medical and science students.

Leprosy and HIV diagnostics
In 2016, the Charles Mérieux Center for Infectious Disease was recognized as a national reference laboratory for leprosy. As a result, it was able to further strenghten its diagnostic capabilities. Although a national program has been introduced to combat leprosy, this disease remains a major public health challenge in Madagascar.

Laboratory personnel also received training in how to set up the HIV viral load technique. HIV prevalence among the population ranges from 0.5 to 1%. Roughly 60,000 individuals are living with HIV in Madagascar, half of whom urgently need antiretroviral therapy.