Oxford Medical Centre Laboratory: Elevating diagnostic excellence in Guyana

In the last few years, our country’s healthcare sector has been rapidly expanding to meet the needs of a growing population. With this growth comes the establishment of multiple medical laboratories, certified by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) to guarantee accurate and reliable results.

One of those laboratories certified by the GNBS is the Oxford Medical Centre Laboratory (OMCL). Established in 2023 by naturalized Guyanese Yukun Zhang Feihu, this relatively new facility on Mandela Avenue in Georgetown provides testing in the areas of Haematology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Serology and Urology.
Joel Doodnauth, the Operations Officer at this laboratory, noted that the facility was established to reduce the waiting time for medical testing and to strengthen the diagnostic services in the country.
“By establishing its laboratory, the Oxford Medical Centre contributes to these national objectives: aiming to enhance early diagnosis, improve patient care, and support the overall strengthening of Guyana’s healthcare infrastructure,” he noted.
Shortly after establishment, the laboratory approached the GNBS to pursue certification to the National Standard GYS 170:2021 – General requirements for the operation of a laboratory.
Doodnauth said the laboratory pursued certification in order to demonstrate its ability to provide accurate results. Implementing the standard which deals with a Laboratory Management System allows the laboratory to “exhibit the best practices by ensuring consistency, reliability, and quality to all customers,” he said, and added that the “certification enhances the operational standards and credibility of the OMC Laboratory.”
The OMC Laboratory was officially certified by the GNBS on December 13, 2024. Doodnauth said that while the certification process was tedious, it was a rewarding experience, “as it gave insight into the overlooked areas of operation that silently play an integral role in sample processing, document management and result reporting.”
The GNBS Laboratory Certification Programme provides crucial support and guidance to staff of medical and testing laboratories in order to streamline their lab operations to fulfil the requirements of the National Standard. Additionally, the support provided by the GNBS technical officers has been instrumental in some medical facilities attaining international certification.
Doodnauth noted that the programme facilitated the recognition of the facility, and served as a stepping stone for collaborations with public and private organisations. Further, complying with regulatory requirements in accordance with the National Standard has improved confidence in the results provided to the customers.
New laboratories, upon being certified, receive a plaque and a certificate from the GNBS to display for their customers, and Doodnauth said the certificate led to many referrals to the facility.

“Insurance agencies and companies in the Oil and Gas sector favour a certified laboratory, as it shows compliance to some quality standard. Futuristically, there are plans to seek ISO Certification, which will couple with the existing certification and better demonstrate our capabilities and competence for reliable and quality service,” he highlighted.
He encourages other laboratories that are not yet certified to join the GNBS’ Certification Programme. For more information, they are invited to call GNBS on 219-0064-66 or WhatsApp 692-4627, or visit www.gnbsgy.org.