The Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB), under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), successfully conducted an online orientation on the latest requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 (General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories), ISO 15189:2022 (Requirements for Quality and Competence in Medical Laboratories), and ISO/IEC 17043:2023 (Conformity Assessment – General Requirements for Proficiency Testing) for the Department of Health (DOH) National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) from August 27 to 29, 2024. The event gathered over a hundred participants, including laboratory managers, quality managers, and technical staff from various DOH NRLs.
The orientation aimed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and understanding of the latest requirements of the standards that are crucial for ensuring the accuracy, reliability, and quality of testing activities in laboratories, which are vital to public health.
In his welcome message, PAB Director James Empeño mentioned the significance of adhering to these standards. “As we proceed with this training, let us keep in mind that our ultimate goal is to ensure that our laboratory operations are fully aligned with global standards. In doing so, we not only contribute to the effectiveness of our work but also to the safety and well-being of the communities we serve,” Dir. Empeño said.
The event featured presentations from Accreditation Officers Ms. Katrina Talle and Mr. Marlon Macadamia of the Philippine Accreditation Bureau. Ms. Talle provided a comprehensive overview of ISO/IEC 17025, the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.
Mr. Macadamia, on the other hand, discussed the overview of the standards ISO 15189 and ISO/IEC 17043. He provided practical aspects of implementing these standards, shared best practices for compliance, internal audits, corrective actions, and continual improvement. Their combined insights provided valuable guidance to laboratories on effectively aligning their processes with these requirements.
Aligning with these international standards will help NRLs further enhance the quality and reliability of their testing services for the benefit of the public.
PAB will continue to offer training and capacity-building activities to assist laboratories in understanding and implementing international standards. Such initiatives are essential in fostering a culture of quality and continuous improvement among laboratories, contributing to enhanced public health outcomes and the country’s overall quality infrastructure.
For further information about PAB and its upcoming events, please visit https://www.dti.gov.ph/pab/events/.
Release Date: 10 September 2024.
