Latest update March 21st, 2025 7:03 AM
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Guyana’s main laboratory attracts international attention
After being certified by the Guyana Bureau of Standards in 2010 the National Public
Dr. Colin Roach
Health Reference Laboratory, Georgetown, has been enhancing its operations in anticipation of international accreditation by its third anniversary.
This expectation was disclosed by the facility’s Director, Dr. Colin Roach, during a recent interview. He revealed that the laboratory registered with the Ontario Laboratory Association, Canada, last June and was given one year to satisfy all the requirements of that accrediting body.
While management and staff are busy preparing for international accreditation they are also improving their services to maintain local certification.
Dr. Roach emphasized that the Guyana standards are very similar or it is a subset of the international standard which is ISO15189. As such, the laboratory had satisfied several criteria when the Guyana standards were implemented.
In comparison to the Guyana standards, the international standards require more rigidity in terms of methods validation. It is important to the accreditation process that the laboratory provides evidence that methods are validated.
In addition, evidence of proficiency testing and what is done when non-compliance of those testing occurs must be shown, Dr. Roach stressed.
He added that the laboratory has to improve in the area of sample collection because samples are gathered from across the Regions. The facility is tasked with the safe transportation of samples. As such health centre personnel are trained on how to prepare samples using the requisite containers.
The preparation process requires a lot of work in the areas of safety and general laboratory practices.
“We have gone through the checklist which is a 151-page document; we have been able to identify our gaps and there are many but not anything that we cannot handle. From January 1 we are hoping to start our implementation, in particular, to meet the standards,” Dr. Roach stated.
He is optimistic that the laboratory will be ready by May for international accreditation; hence by July 3, the third anniversary of the facility, will be accredited.
“Before you are actually accredited you have to show evidence of implementation. So while we would be ready we have to ensure we have the proper documentation for at least three months or so as evidence to show that we are comfortable with what we are doing. That is why we are looking at May but we should have everything ready and running by March/ April,” he added.
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