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Adherence to quality guidelines CAP accreditation acknowledges testing facilities and emphasises adherence to excellence ■■ Farhana Chowdhury
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aboratories in the UAE and across the globe are subject to maintaining top standards. Protective gear, user-friendly equipment, and of course, a sanitised well-maintained space, to name a few, are necessary for proper operations. But what sets the standard for these ideals? In a bid to raise quality and act as a guide, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) steps in to foster and advocate excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. Established in the US in 1946, the organisation is dedicated to serve patients, pathologists and public through courses such as the peer-based CAP Laboratory Accreditation Programme that ensure the highest quality laboratory testing in the UAE and abroad. “Laboratories that pursue CAP accreditation often assume the role as leaders in their community. They take on the responsibility of teaching others the importance of high-quality practices and techniques that help in this pursuit. They also reinforce the critical importance of clinical and pathology laboratory in
diagnosis, therapeutic decision-making and ongoing treatment and health monitoring,” says Bharati Jhaveri, MD, FCAP, Member, CAP Board of Governors and Chair, CAP Council on Accreditation. The CAP accredits laboratories in more than 50 countries, and to date, around 38 laboratories have been accredited in the UAE, with strong focus on patients. “We do this by developing the most rigorous accreditation programme in the world that leverages the expertise of thousands of CAP members and laboratorians involved in the continual vigilance of programme requirements
Laboratories that pursue CAP accreditation often assume the role as leaders in their community.
and laboratory inspections. We believe the rigour of our programme speaks volumes of what the CAP represents, i.e., the highest quality pathology and laboratory medicine programmes and services; and why we do it, i.e., for patients worldwide,” she said. Laboratories in more than 100 countries are enrolled in CAP’s proficiency testing programmes used in external quality assurance for individual tests. Among its recent achievements is a set of best practices for Proficiency Testing (PT) providers, awarded by the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board and valid until July 1, 2018.
“The CAP’s ISO-17043 accreditation is another demonstration of our commitment to meeting the needs of clinical laboratories around the world and supporting their efforts to improve the quality of care provided to patients,” Jhaveri said. The CAP’s accreditation covers proficiency testing for a majority of tests conducted in the clinical laboratory including blood gas, critical care, oximetry, chemistry, coagulation, endocrinology, haematology, clinical microscopy, immunology, microbiology, reproductive medicine, toxicology, and transfusion medicine. Under the world’s largest
PT programme, the CAP integrates expert science, clinically relevant specimens that challenge and educate participants, and data analysis that ensures robust and relevant peer comparison. Adding to top quality standards in the medical sector, National Reference Laboratory (NRL) steps in as one of the largest CAP-accredited private laboratory networks in the region comprising six recognised laboratories. It aims to enhance patient care through quick and accurate diagnosis of common and serious diseases. — farhana@khaleejtimes.com
List of CAP-accredited laboratories in the UAE Abu Dhabi • Advanced Center for Day Care Surgery Laboratory • Advanced Cure Diagnostic Center Laboratory • Al Ahalia Hospital Laboratory • Al Borg Diagnostic Centre for Laboratories LLC • Burjeel Hospital Laboratory Dept • Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi — NRL Anatomic Pathology Lab • Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi — Pathology and Laboratory Medicine • Corniche Hospital Laboratory • Dar Al Mouasah Diagnostic Centre Laboratory • Emirates International Hospital Laboratory • Gulf Healthcare International — Gulf Radiology and Laboratory • HealthPlus — Diabetes and Endocrinology Center Laboratory • Healthpoint Hospital — Healthpoint-NRL Lab • IBN Nafees Medical Center Laboratory • Imperial College London Diabetes Centre — NRL-ICLDC Laboratories • Mafraq Hospital — Pathology and Laboratory Dept • National Reference Laboratory (NRL) at ICAD • New National Medical Centre Laboratory • Proficiency Healthcare Diagnostics Laboratories LLC • Sheikh Khalifa Medical City — Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services • Sheikh Khalifa Medical City — Blood Donor Centre Laboratory • Taha Medical Centre Laboratory Al Ain • Ain Al Khaleej Hospital Laboratory • Al Wagan Hospital Laboratory • Emirates International Hospital Laboratory • Gulf Healthcare International — Al Khaleej Medical Centre Laboratory • Imperial College London Diabetes Centre — NRL-ICLDC Laboratories • Tawam Hospital — Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services • Tawam Specialised Labs — Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services Ajman • Gulf Medical University (GMU) Laboratory — CABRI, Thumbay Labs Dubai • American Hospital Dubai Laboratory • Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital FZ LLC Laboratory • Mediclinic City Hospital — Dept of Pathology and Laboratory • National Reference Laboratory (NRL) at Dubiotech • SRL Diagnostics FZ-LLC at Dubai Healthcare City • Saudi German Hospital — Pathology and Laboratory Medicine • Thumbay Hospital — Thumbay Labs Fujairah • Thumbay Hospital — Thumbay Labs Sharjah • Zulekha Hospital — Pathology Laboratory
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Delivering what matters the most in diagnostic services SRL Diagnostics Dubai offers one of the largest in-house test menus ranging from routine clinical chemistry tests to specialised molecular genetics tests
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RL Diagnostics Dubai is a state-of-the-art reference laboratory located in Dubai Healthcare City that provides a comprehensive range of laboratory tests locally. The company is a part of Fortis Healthcare group, which offers healthcare delivery services in India, UAE, Mauritius and Sri Lanka, with 54 healthcare facilities (including projects under development) and 300 diagnostic centres. “Our journey in the UAE started over a decade ago when the first set of samples were airlifted to our central reference laboratory in India. The group decided to establish a state-ofthe-art reference lab for the GCC in Dubai. The idea was to provide high-end investigation within the country instead of sending it abroad. The laboratory began operations in 2009 and was accredited by College of American Pathologists in a record time of less than one year,” said Mayur Sabhani, Head Operations — Middle East. Core areas of expertise Through a robust network of 300-plus labs, SRL Dubai offers an extensive range of specialities in pathology services. In addition, SRL also offers a host of other services like radiology, wellness services, etc. “Our Dubai lab offers tests across various departments including high-end tests such as those done in coagulation, anatomic pathology, molecular diagnostics and cytogenetics. Our team of over 30 scientific officers and pathologists lab techs, supervised by four pathologists who review every test result, are also available to discuss results with the ordering physi-
cian. This ensures accurate and quick results and regular interaction between referring and reporting doctors,” he said. In addition, it also offers a host of advisory services such as operations and management (O&M) services for diagnostic centres, process improvements, accreditation support and capacity building. The O&M services cover the project phase, pre-operating phase and the operating phase. Evolving market trends The diagnostic pathology market across the globe is constantly evolving due to the advancements in technologies and ever-changing disease patterns. In the case of Middle East, the impact of this global change is quick, due to the ease of connectivity with the rest of the world. In the UAE, this is amplified by the sheer variability of ethnicity in population. “In a nutshell, a clinician who is treating an individual in the UAE needs stronger clinical support services like pathology and needs to be aware of changes in disease pattern, not only in this region, but also across the world. Of course, this means the providers need to give their best and interact with clinicians regularly,” he said, adding that with growing focus, optimal utilisation of healthcare services, preventive healthcare and insurance penetration, the UAE is a challenging but very rewarding market. A cut above the rest Outsourced pathology market in the UAE is highly fragmented. While there are a number of small and medium-sized providers that offer a wide test menu, very few actually perform a wide
Mayur Sabhani Head Operations — Middle East
range locally, according to Sabhani. “Many labs are accepting samples to send them to locations outside the UAE to perform the test. We, at SRL, offer perhaps one of the largest inhouse test menus ranging from routine clinical chemistry tests to specialised molecular genetics tests. These tests are performed by our technical team, which is supported by equally robust support functions like IT, quality assurance, logistics, etc. to ensure that we deliver what matters the most in laboratory diagnostics to our customers, i.e., quick and accurate results with medical expertise,” he said. Expansion and growth plans The group aims to expand its footprints across the GCC, and is currently evaluating the set up of two additional labs in the UAE, which will be followed by other GCC countries in Phase II. “We also understand that local know-how is critical in this region; hence we have multiple business models for partnering with investors, who have a longterm interest in healthcare,” Sabhani concluded.
CAP Accreditation
A name of trust Thumbay Labs are among the largest network with CAP-accredited private labs in the region
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he Dubai and Fujairah laboratories of Thumbay Labs have been awarded accreditation by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the worldwide leaders in laboratory quality assurance. The central facility of Thumbay Labs in Ajman, the Centre for Advanced Biomedical Research and Innovation (CABRI) had won the prestigious accreditation earlier. With this, Thumbay Labs has emerged as one of the largest networks of CAP-accredited private labs in the region offering a wide portfolio of advanced tests with proven standards in quality, accuracy and precision. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group said that the prestigious CAPaccreditation was a testament to the excellent services provided by Thumbay Labs. “CAPaccreditation to more of our laboratories underlines the quality and accuracy of diagnostic services delivered by Thumbay Labs. This esteemed recognition will further improve the worldclass services available to our patients,” he said. According to Dr Palat Krishna Menon, Director of Thumbay Labs, with this recognition the brand is poised to be an important player in the diagnostics industry of the UAE, the MENA region and beyond. “We are very proud to be able to position Thumbay Labs as a leader among the providers of high-quality diagnostic services in the region. Evidence-based medicine requires the support of good quality labs, which offer accurate and reliable diagnostic services. This is an important area where Thumbay Labs can play a crucial role,” he added. Thumbay Labs recently entered the Indian diagnostic market with an advanced lab in Thumbay Hospital, Hyderabad. Thumbay Labs, in the quest to further widen its tests portfolio as well as to increase market share, is eyeing major hospitals both in the private
and government sectors. It has plans to further expand to new locations in the UAE as well as abroad. A key strategy is to focus on “specialised segments” targeting key specialities like diabetotology, genetics, and women and child health. An example is NeoScreen®, which is a 57-parameter assay for newborn screening, and competitively priced at Dh320 — the lowest in the UAE. It uses multiple technologies like LCMS, HPLC, and Time Resolved
Flourimetry. Thumbay Labs’ comprehensive modern facilities offer unique advantages such as complete end-to-end automation, online report availability, automated email report dispatch, research and referral facilities, QMS expertise, etc. Thumbay Labs also undertakes hospital lab management and has entered into acquisitions/mergers in a big way, with plans to further expand its presence globally.
We are CAP Accredited To the patient it means
Assurance: of Quality of Laboratory Reports resulting in better diagnosis Continuous Improvement: This is a must to ensure continuation of CAP certification Validation: Peer comparison beyond compare – The CAP provides the laboratory with benchmarks and comparisons with other accredited laboratories Guidance: Educational opportunities developed by scientific and laboratory leaders for technical competence and professional growth. Supports evidence based medicine.
DUBAI
AJMAN
DUBAI • SHARJAH • AJMAN • UMM AL QUWAIN • RAS AL KHAIMAH • FUJAIRAH • INDIA
THE LARGEST CAP ACCREDITED LABORATORY CHAIN IN THE UAE 415555, DIFC, Dubai, UAE.
+971-4-2985555 +971-4-2989555 info@thumbaylabs.com thumbaylabs +thumbaylabsuae thumbaytv
www.thumbaylabs.com
FUJAIRAH
CAP Accreditation
Abdul Hamid Oubeisi, CEO
Critical enabler of world-class healthcare delivery Driving patient outcomes and effective treatment
NRL is the largest, College of American Pathologists (CAP) accredited private laboratory network in the Middle East, with six CAP-accredited laboratories, consisting of two owned laboratories in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as four managed laboratories across Mubadala’s healthcare network.
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From early detection and diagnosis of disease to individualised treatment plans based on a person’s unique genetic makeup, clinical laboratory testing is critical to improving patient outcomes and experience. It plays an essential part in the delivery of quality healthcare as laboratory tests are ordered to diagnose, treat, manage, and monitor a patient’s condition. This is an important benefit for the wider community, including detecting major public health trends and risks. Between 70 per cent and 80 per cent of medical decisions draw upon diagnostic test results and allow physicians to detect and diagnose disease more quickly and at an earlier stage, even before symptoms occur. Laboratory diagnostics supports more targeted, effective, and sometimes less invasive treatment to effectively manage diseases and predict patient prognosis. Regional leader in laboratory quality management National Reference Laboratory (NRL) was created in 2010 by Mubadala, and is in partnership with and managed by Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings (LabCorp®), a leading healthcare diagnostics company and operator of one of the world’s
largest and most experienced clinical laboratory networks. NRL offers a broad scope of more than 4,700 laboratory tests, ranging from routine blood counts and cholesterol tests to more cutting-edge complex diagnoses of genetic conditions, cancers and other rare diseases. The partnership between LabCorp, Mubadala and NRL is unique in the region. In a short period of time, LabCorp’s support has allowed NRL to become a UAE and regional leader, and to establish a strong reputation as an ethical, quality-driven, and patient-centered laboratory. NRL is the largest, College of American Pathologists (CAP) accredited private laboratory network in the Middle East, with six CAP-accredited laboratories, consisting of two owned laboratories in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as four managed laboratories across Mubadala’s healthcare network. In addition, the Dubai laboratory is ISO:15189 certified and the remaining laboratories will be NRL is proud to be able to position itself as a leader in laboratory quality management in the region and will soon achieve its goal to be one of the largest private laboratory networks in the Middle East to have both CAP and ISO:15189 accreditations.
certified by 2016. The company is proud to be able to position National Reference Laboratory as a regional leader in laboratory quality management. It will soon achieve its goal to be the largest private laboratory network in the Middle East to have both CAP and ISO:15189 accreditations. CAP is considered the gold standard in lab oratory accreditation and works to increase the quality of pathology and laboratory services. In turn, this will improve patient safety NRL services • Comprehensive laboratory testing • Outsourced laboratory services • Laboratory management solutions • Occupational health testing and outcomes by ensuring laboratories meet or exceed internationally ap proved regulatory requirements. A seamless platform for clients As a company with a demonstrated track record in laboratory management, it plans to expand its reach regionally using the integration and implementation model it has designed and perfected. This
Effective healthcare is built on the basis of science and innovative technologies. These provide healthcare professionals the tools to deliver effective medicine. By being committed to raising the standard of testing and patient outcomes, NRL supports the improvement of the overall healthcare system. model is systems-based and supported by science, subject matter experts, state-of-the-art laboratory automation, process standardisation, Information Technology infrastructure and logistics solutions. Its implementation model fundamentals require that it pursue both CAP and ISO 15189 accreditation for all laboratories that join the network, one year after commencement of services. In this respect, NRL is delighted to have recently added the laboratory of Etihad Airways Medical Centre to the network and are working to further expand based on its highly efficient, scalable laboratory management model. New centres of excellence for prevalent issues in the region NRL is working to establish centres of excellence that will provide comprehensive testing in several areas, such as molecular genetics, anatomic pathology,
special coagulation, flowcytometry, protein studies and tuberculosis testing. Specifically, as genetic disorders are very common in the Arab world, providing specialised molecular genetics testing will enable healthcare providers to assess and manage risk and provide improved care to the patients. This will enhance patient care through fast and precise diagnosis of common and serious life treating diseases and improve turnaround times by reducing the need to send samples abroad for testing. Effective healthcare is built on the basis of science and innovative technologies. These provide healthcare professionals the tools to deliver effective medicine. In this context, it is vitally important for healthcare professionals to be able to base diagnoses on high-quality accurate laboratory results provided by gold standard i n te r n at i o n a l a cc re d i te d laboratories. By being committed to raising the standard of laboratory testing and patient outcomes, NRL supports the improvement of the overall healthcare system. These efforts will cement NRL as a regional laboratory quality leader and significantly increase the standards of healthcare services provided to the patients. For more information visit www.nrl.ae