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National Reference Laboratory receives accreditation from College of American Pathologists

DUBAI, 01, May, 2012 - National Reference Laboratory's laboratory in DuBiotech Dubai has been awarded accreditation by the Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), based on the results of a recent onsite inspection. It is now one of only ten CAP accredited laboratories in the United Arab Emirates[1] and the only independent laboratory in the UAE to hold both CAP and ISO 15189[2] accreditations.

The CAP Laboratory Accreditation programme, begun in the early 1960s, is acknowledged as the international gold standard in laboratory accreditation. It is recognized by the United States federal government as being equal to or more stringent than the government's own inspection program.

During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors examine the laboratory's records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications, as well as the laboratory's equipment, facilities, safety program and record, in addition to the overall management of the laboratory. This stringent inspection program is designed to specifically ensure the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients.

National Reference Laboratory (NRL) is a business established by Mubadala Healthcare to provide high-quality medical diagnostic testing services. Its Dubai laboratory opened in 2010 and is the first of the two branches to receive a CAP accreditation. The Abu Dhabi regional hub laboratory, which opened at the end of last year, will also seek accreditation once it has been operational for the requisite amount of time later this year. The business was created in partnership with and is operated by Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp), one of the world's largest and most renowned clinical reference laboratory networks.

National Reference Laboratory aims to provide healthcare organizations in the region with a one-stop solution for all of their clinical testing needs, creating an efficient and high-quality service that is closer to home, reducing both turnaround times and logistical costs compared with laboratories abroad. One such healthcare organization is Dubai Health Authority, who recently signed a three year agreement designating National Reference Laboratory as an official referral lab for specialized tests.

Together with the significant resources of the LabCorp network, NRL offers a comprehensive menu of more than 4,000 tests. It has also invested in state-of-the-art technology to manage the quality of specimens and testing results, including temperature-controlled transportation vehicles and the most advanced laboratory testing equipment.

Medical diagnostic testing serves a critical back-end function in the healthcare value chain, with healthcare providers significantly benefiting from test results to make informed diagnostic and treatment decisions. It has been estimated that 70 per cent of all medical decisions regarding diagnosis and treatment are based on lab results.[3]

"We are committed to the implementation of international best practice procedures and quality control measures in each phase of our service delivery to ensure the most reliable and efficient diagnostic testing results for our clients," said Kristian Marthinsen, General Manager at National Reference Laboratory. "I am delighted that our high standards and the excellent work of our team have been recognized with this prestigious accreditation."

ABOUT NATIONAL REFERENCE LABORATORY
National Reference Laboratory (NRL) is a Mubadala Healthcare initiative, created in partnership with and operated by Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp), one of the world's largest and most experienced clinical laboratory operators. NRL aims to increase the spectrum, coverage and overall efficiency of laboratory testing, and implement international best practice reference laboratory testing processes. NRL is committed to driving improvement in the quality standards of medical diagnostic testing in the region by investing in the latest technologies and acting as a trusted resource for healthcare providers.

NRL has laboratories based in Abu Dhabi located in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the Nucleotide Complex of Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park ( Dubiotech ). Together, they comprise 32,000 square feet of laboratory space with both standard and advanced testing capabilities, offering healthcare providers in the region a one-stop shop for all of their medical diagnostic testing needs. NRL's Dubai facility is an ISO 15189 accredited facility and has been awarded the College of American Pathologists (CAP) certification. The Abu Dhabi facility will apply for the same accreditations in 2012.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF AMERICAN PATHOLOGISTS
The College of American Pathologists (CAP), celebrating 50 years as the gold standard in laboratory accreditation, is a medical society that serves more than 17,000 physician members and the global laboratory community. It is the world's largest association composed exclusively of Board-certified pathologists and is the worldwide leader in laboratory quality assurance. The College advocates accountable, high-quality, and cost-effective patient care. More information about the College can be found at www.cap.org.

ABOUT MUBADALA HEALTHCARE
Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala) is a catalyst for the economic diversification of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The company's commercial strategy is built on the management of long-term, capital-intensive, investments that deliver not only strong financial returns but tangible social benefits for the people of Abu Dhabi. In doing so Mubadala is expanding the economic base of the Emirate and in turn significantly contributing to the growth and diversification of the Abu Dhabi economy.

As a business unit of Mubadala Development Company, Mubadala Healthcare is playing an instrumental role in the creation of a thriving healthcare sector for the Emirate. By establishing partnerships with renowned international medical institutions, it is actively investing to develop healthcare services that provide patients with world-class treatment in their home country. Mubadala Healthcare evaluates potential projects both on their likely commercial returns as well as on their socio-economic impact. It aims to establish sustainable businesses, build regional capability and stimulate the overall development of the sector. The first priority has been to address the region's most pressing healthcare needs through the creation of specialist healthcare facilities. In collaboration with medical organizations such as Johns Hopkins Medicine International, Imperial College London and Cleveland Clinic, the goal is to bring the highest standards of clinical expertise to the region and reduce the need for patients to travel abroad for treatment.

[1] College of American Pathologists

[2] ISO 15189 is based on ISO/IEC 17025 (General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories) and ISO 9001 (Quality management systems - Requirements). It therefore incorporates the quality systems elements addressed in ISO 9001 certification, as well as the general requirements of a testing laboratory. Accreditation to ISO 15189 places five additional critical criteria on medical laboratories which include:

1. Providing advice on the type of sample, and testing that may be required;

2. Interacting with clinical staff by placing a responsibility on the laboratory to liaise with

3. Clinicians who refer patient samples for testing about the quality of their service;

4. Providing opinions on results of testing in relation to diagnosis and patient care;

5. Collecting samples or if not, providing information on collection procedures, sample

6. Containers and sample volumes; and

7. Ethical practice - first duty is to the patient, not to the 'customer'.

Reference: http://www.ilac.org

[3] American Clinical Laboratory Association, September 2011

© Press Release 2012

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