Lab professionals schooled on importance of standards & safety

Some 31 clinical and testing laboratories have been certified under the Guyana National Bureau of Standards’ Laboratory Certification Programme, which serves as a stepping stone to international accreditation.
This has been announced as the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) currently observes National Quality Week 2023 under the theme “Shared Vision for a Better World: Incorporating SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing).”
On Tuesday, the GNBS hosted a laboratory symposium to educate laboratory professionals on the importance of standards, quality, and safety in the laboratory. The event, which was hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), attracted 65 participants from clinical and testing laboratories in the public and private sectors.

Addressing the opening ceremony, GNBS Head of Industrial Metrology and Testing Department, Donna Canterbury, in her remarks, pointed out that the forum is intended to educate the participants of their responsibilities.
“This session brings together you, as laboratory professionals, and the regulatory agencies to clarify what is needed to set up and maintain laboratories that are compliant with standards and laws,” she informed.
Permanent Secretary of the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry, Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, in her remarks, emphasised the importance of laboratories in the success of healthcare institutions, the wellbeing of the population, and tourism and international trade. She pointed out that standards must be intertwined with day-to-day operations to ensure consumers are assured of quality and consistency.
“With the increasing number of private healthcare facilities, there are more significant interactions between facilities and patients of medical institutions sourcing specific tests from other sites because of availability or urgency. This places a greater demand for consistency, since doctors will rely primarily on the results supplied by external facilities. It also ensures that clinical diagnoses are consistent regardless of the laboratory that conducts the tests, she noted.
Roopchand-Edwards added that beyond the need for standards in the medical labs, testing labs also have a critical role to play in quality control, international certification, and food security.
The Permanent Secretary also spoke of the major developments taking place in Guyana’s healthcare sector, including the construction of medical facilities and capacity building. She went on to note that Government, through the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry, would continue to support the work of the GNBS, which provides various calibration, testing, certification, training, and other standards-related services to laboratories.
She alluded to the construction of a new state-of-the-art laboratory facility with a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank for the GNBS to provide more services in an efficient manner.
Meanwhile, the acting Head of the Health Ministry’s Standards and Technical Services Department, Dr. Pedro Lewis, told participants it is important to ensure all regulatory and compliance documents are in place for the operation of the laboratories.
Dr Lewis, who was also a presenter at the symposium, lauded the GNBS for playing an important role in ensuring clinical and testing facilities are operating in accordance with the standard.
Presentations were also done by GNBS technical officers, and the senior occupational safety & health officer of the Labour Ministry. The topics covered included Regulations and Compliance Requirements for Laboratories, GNBS Laboratory Certification Programme, the GYS 170:2021 National Standard, Auditing Services provided by the GNBS, Laboratory Safety and Quality, Occupational Safety and Health requirements, and requirements of the ISO 15189 and ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
The GNBS has a list of activities planned for the remainder of National Quality Week, including the National Quality Awards on Wednesday, a free Food Safety Training for stakeholders, and an Impromptu Speech Competition for secondary schools in Region Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara) on Thursday. These activities conclude with a Staff Appreciation Awards Ceremony on Friday.