The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) said the St Joseph Hospital Medical Laboratory was recertified under its Laboratory Certification Programme as it maintained conformity to the related standard.
In a press release the GNBS said the hospital maintained the requirements of the standard ‘General Requirements for the Operation of a Laboratory’ GYS 170:2003. It proved it could maintain a comprehensive laboratory management system and this commitment to standardization will inspire customer confidence and facilitate the delivery of accurate, reliable and consistent test results.
At a brief presentation GNBS Executive Director Dr Chatterpaul Ramcharran said the lab deserves re-certification after tremendous efforts to implement the Quality Management System as outlined in the standard. He also said the work to maintain the system must continue as the GNBS intends to host unscheduled surveillance audits to ensure compliance.
The standard requires compliance with management, safety and technical requirements and documented procedures which would ensure the efficient monitoring, managing and training personnel, approved environmental conditions, calibration of equipment, measurement traceability, approved test methods and maintenance of accurate records.
According to the release certified laboratories may also be required to participate in relevant proficiency testing programmes between reassessments as a further demonstration of technical performance.
The GNBS said other laboratories currently certified under its programme are Dr Balwant Singh’s Hospital, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation Medical Laboratory, the Eureka Medical Laboratory, Woodlands Hospital Laboratory and the Georgetown Medical Centre. The GNBS is currently working with other labs to help them achieve certification.
