The Caribbean Public Health (CARPHA) Port of Spain laboratory was recently accredited by the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC). Having achieved this important milestone in November 2018, CARPHA can now boast that all three laboratories are accredited to internationally recognized standards. Accreditation formally recognizes that CARPHA has demonstrated the capacity and commitment to improve the public health conditions for the people of the Region.
CARPHA Director for Surveillance, Prevention and Control Dr Virginia Asin-Oostburg stated, “We have set a benchmark for performance, which we will continue to uphold. This is not only an achievement for CARPHA but for the entire Caribbean region. She further stated, “This recent accreditation should enhance the confidence that Member States and the public already have in CARPHA.”
The Jamaica laboratory tests the quality of pharmaceutical products, Saint Lucia laboratory provides environmental testing including water quality monitoring and, Port of Spain laboratory undertakes general microbiology, virology and parasitology testing as well as testing for mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika.
Ms Lisa Edghill, Quality Manager for the Port of Spain laboratory stated, “CARPHA will ensure that it maintains the standard achieved and work towards continual improvement of its services to its Member States.”
JANAAC, a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, granted accreditation to the Port of Spain laboratory, which is a formal recognition attesting to the agency’s competency to carry out specific tasks and perform work that meets the requirements of the international standard – ISO 15189 Medical Laboratories – Requirement for quality and competence.
CARPHA is committed to providing testing services of the highest standards to our clients and member states and to continually improving our quality management system. With this important achievement, our laboratory guarantees the quality of the results sent to the Member States.