Relevant stakeholders opine that trust and quality are paramount in the realm of healthcare.

Patients rely on medical laboratories for accurate and reliable test results, as the foundation of diagnosis and treatment.

Hence, the ISO 15189 accreditation stands as a beacon, because it guides laboratories towards the establishment of a stringent quality management system.

Biztellers reports that the ISO 15189 is an international standard specific for medical laboratories. It outlines the requirements for quality and competence that laboratories need to meet to ensure accurate and reliable testing, calibration, and sampling processes.

This is why accreditation against this standard indicates that a laboratory has not just established, but is operating a quality management system and adheres to stringent requirements of the standard.

This clarification highlights the multifaceted benefits of ISO 15189 accreditation in enhancing patient trust and service quality within medical laboratories.

What then are the benefits of ISO 15189 accreditation to the provision of medical laboratory services?

A Vivid Scenario

Supposing that a patient, Adeola Adeolu (not real names), seeks diagnostic services at SYNLAB Nigeria.

And assuming that he was initially hesitant about the accuracy of test results, his concerns could be assuaged upon learning from his referral doctor that SYNLAB Nigeria does not compromise on quality because of its ISO 15189 accreditation.

Knowing that SYNLAB has this accreditation instills confidence in Adeolu, because it reinforces the reliability and credibility of the laboratory’s services.

Armed with the trust, Adeolu proceeds with the tests, confident in SYNLAB Nigeria’s commitment to excellence.

Biztellers shares below discerning members of the public look out for the ISO 15189

1. ISO 15189 accreditation requires medical laboratories to adhere to a comprehensive framework for implementing quality management systems in order to ensure consistent and reliable test results. Such a guide enables organizations to access best practices and consistently implement them.
2. Adhering to ISO 15189 standards requirements enhances patient safety by minimizing errors and ensuring accurate diagnostic outcomes. Adeolu’s confidence in accepting to run tests at SYNLAB Nigeria because of its ISO 15189 accreditation hinges on his belief that he would get accurate results.
3. ISO 15189 accreditation elevates the global recognition of medical laboratories, facilitating collaborations and partnerships with healthcare institutions worldwide. Customers of an ISO 15189 certified laboratory can be confident that the result they receive from their laboratory will be acceptable across the globe.
4. Accreditation under ISO 15189 indicates that the laboratory is meeting regulatory obligations, promoting ethical practices and is a legally responsible organization.
5. Emphasizing staff competence and training, ISO 15189 accreditation affirms that laboratory personnel possess the necessary skills to maintain high-quality standards in laboratory operations. ISO 15189 accredited laboratories pay attention to staff training, recognizing that maintaining high quality requires having highly competent team.
6. ISO 15189 standard requirements incorporate risk management principles, enabling laboratories to identify and mitigate potential risks effectively, thus ensuring patient safety. It fosters a culture of continuous improvement within medical laboratories, driving innovation and excellence in service delivery.
7. ISO 15189 accreditation distinguishes laboratories as leaders in quality healthcare delivery, providing a competitive advantage and attracting patients and healthcare providers seeking reliable diagnostic services.

Conclusion

The ISO 15189 accreditation serves as a symbol for excellence in medical laboratories, enhancing patient trust and assuring service quality.

SYNLAB Nigeria’s embrace of this international standard and compliance with its requirements solidifies its position as a trusted partner in healthcare delivery. As the healthcare landscape evolves, ISO 15189 accreditation will remain indispensable tool, driving innovation, patient-centered care, and unwavering confidence in medical laboratories worldwide.

About SYNLAB Nigeria

SYNLAB Nigeria is a member of the SYNLAB group, with presence in 35 countries in four continents.

The organization has over 30 active locations across Nigeria and has been ISO 15189 certified since 2006.

SYNLAB Group is the leader in medical diagnostic services and specialty testing in Europe.

The Group offers a full range of innovative and reliable medical diagnostics to patients, practicing doctors, hospitals and clinics, governments and corporates.

Providing the leading level of service within the industry, SYNLAB is the partner of choice for routine and specialty diagnostics in human and veterinary medicine. The Group continuously innovates medical diagnostic services for the benefit of patients and customers.

SYNLAB holds leading positions in most markets, regularly reinforcing the strength of its network through a proven acquisition strategy.

Residents of Maradun town, situated in the Maradun local government area of Zamfara State, are in a state of fear following a bandit attack in the early hours of Friday.

The assailants, who invaded the town around 2:00 am, killed two individuals and abducted approximately 30 others.

The attack, which lasted about two hours, involved sporadic shooting and the ransacking of residents’ homes.

Despite ongoing efforts to ascertain the exact number of abducted persons, it is estimated to be around 30, encompassing women, children, and adults residing in the affected homes.

A local traditional ruler, whose residence was targeted by the bandits, expressed concern over the escalating insecurity within the town.

He said “It was to my hearing the bandits burgled my palour’s door, coming towards my inner room, I managed to hide while my wives and children followed another passage and ran away to hide somewhere. ”

The traditional ruler, preferring anonymity, expressed concern about the frequent attacks on the town.

He cited a similar incident the previous Friday, where bandits rustled cattle and sheep.

Hassan Ibrahim, a resident, described the attack as horrific, noting the bandits’ deployment at multiple locations armed with advanced weaponry.

He added “When I heard their movement close to my door, I crossed over to a nearby wall and ran for my dear life and luckily escaped but overheard them saying that we have all hidden.”

Emphasizing the urgency of the situation, he called upon the Minister of State for Defence, who also served as the immediate-past governor of Zamfara State, to intervene and address the security challenges in his hometown promptly.

Action would commence on Saturday on the Lagos-Calabar coastal road with the demolition of buildings situated within the right of way.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Korede Keisha, made the disclosure at a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday.

According to Keisha, all whose houses were earmarked for demolition should visit the ministry’s secretariat in Lagos to address any necessary procedures that might be required.

Keisha said, “So this press briefing is just to create awareness for all those that may be involved or have one or two things to do along that project corridor.

“We’ve sent out demolition notices to as many as are within the right of way and we are using this medium now to say that everyone that has any concern within that corridor and have been served, the secretariat is opened to them from today, 3pm.

“We are welcoming them from today till tomorrow. Whatever you have to do along that axis, and then we’ve come to you and marked you down for demolition, we are asking that you see us at the secretariat from today till tomorrow evening.

“Thereafter, demolition squad will move to action by Saturday morning for the first three kilometres.”

Recall that the Minister of Works Dave Umahi disclosed that the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road is expected to span eight years and cost N4 billion per kilometre

The 700 kilometre Lagos-Calabar coastal road would be constructed for N15 trillion, and a kilometre of the road will cost N4 billion.

It is designed to connect Lagos to Cross River, passing through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states before culminating in Cross River.