A Jamaica-based regional provider of technical and scientific services, Technological Solutions Limited (TSL), has become the first such institution in the Caribbean to secure accreditation for its laboratory from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA).
A2LA, which has been in existence for more than four decades is among the oldest and most respected laboratory accreditation bodies in the world and has over 3,000 accredited laboratories in over 45 countries globally, a release sent to the Stabroek Business by the Kingston Communication Consultants, Berl Francis and Associates says.
The release states that TSL, which has now transferred its ISO 17025 accreditation to A2LA, is now part of an “elite global group of laboratories” and by virtue of its new accreditation now also has access to A2LA’s “significant technical assistance programmes and expertise, as well as its network of accredited laboratories.”
With several of TSL’s international partners having earlier been accredited by A2LA, the release quotes the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr Andre Gordon as saying that the company’s recent accomplishment now positions it to realise its “long-term goals and plans for expansion.”
As of July 1 this year, all TSL’s laboratory services have been consolidated under the newly formed TSL Laboratory Services Limited (TSL Labs), under the TSL Group. TSL Labs is headed by two experts in their field, James Kerr, Chief Executive Officer and Dr Eustace Smith, Laboratory Manager.
Arising out of a recently created partnership with Invisible Sentinel, a subsidiary of the US$2 billion French company BioMérieux, TSL Labs has introduced new rapid technology which the release says now serves to “broaden the base of its analytical services, cut turnaround times and increase the number of analyses it offers internationally.” The significance of TSL’s accomplishment reposes in, among other things, the stature of an entity like BioMérieux as a global player in in vitro diagnostics and a world leader in food microbiology testing.
The US-based Invisible Sentinel Inc., which was only recently acquired by BioMérieux develops, manufactures and markets innovative and user-friendly molecular diagnostic tools for the rapid, accurate and reliable detection of disease-causes. “The partnership with Invisible Sentinel has brought to TSL Labs, innovative, leading-edge DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technology that combines relatively simple protocols and workflows with rapid results, accuracy and specificity,” the release says.
With the United States, Canada and Europe, all major importers of food products from the region, having in recent years significantly raised the bar insofar as the testing of food imports is concerned, TSL’s singular accomplishment will be regarded in the region as an important landmark in the regional food and beverage industry at a time when rising global standards are pushing the Caribbean to raise its own ‘game’.
“This molecular testing platform targets diversified customer segments in the food and beverage industry, using proprietary technology that only we have” says Benjamin Pascal, food scientist, inventor and co-founder of Invisible Sentinel. “The technology integrates several innovative approaches based on well-known scientific principles to deliver unmatched speed and accuracy. It is particularly useful for processing high volumes of samples,” he added.
Dr Gordon, noted: “This new technology allows faster turn-around times and, in some cases, cost savings for clients. We envisage that these initiatives will help to better position the company and provide greater leverage and access to international clients as we seek to expand our services further across the region and into extra-regional markets.”
Testing of foods has become a priority for companies exporting to the United States, Canada and Europe because of upgraded regulations in those markets in the area of food safety.
