Sunday, June 09, 2024 is World Accreditation Day (WAD). Accreditation is a formal, independent verification that a program or institution meets internationally established quality standards and is competent to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks. Conformity assessment tasks include testing, inspection, or certification, which are all essential in a world marked by rapid technological advancement, shifting consumer behaviours and ongoing economic uncertainties.
The theme for this year’s observances is ‘Accreditation: Empowering Tomorrow and Shaping the Future.’ It highlights the role of accreditation in harnessing emerging opportunities and addressing global challenges. Therefore, the advancements perused through research and investment in one region can be easily accepted elsewhere once the facilities are accredited by an international accreditation body.
In Guyana, there are several laboratories that are internationally accredited including the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) Industrial Metrology & Testing (IMT) Laboratory which is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 – General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Others include the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Laboratory, the Government Analyst- Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) Laboratories which are also accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 Standard. Meanwhile, medical laboratories accredited to the ISO 15189:2022 – Medical laboratories — Requirements for quality and competence include Woodlands Limited Medical Laboratory, Woodlands Limited Pathology Laboratory, Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital, and Eureka Medical Laboratories Inc.
Whether in manufacturing, healthcare or agriculture, accreditation provides a framework of trust and reliability. It also enables organisations to confidently embrace new technologies and drive innovation. Further, accredited conformity assessment tasks confirm that new products and processes meet rigorous requirements, facilitating their adoption and integration into existing systems.
As the National Accreditation Focal Point, the GNBS continues to offer support in the form of technical assistance and training to both public and private companies and laboratories that are interested in vying for accreditation. With this support, some were successfully accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and the ISO 15189:2012 standards, giving their services international recognition.
On the occasion of World Accreditation Day 2024, the GNBS encourages more laboratories certified to the National Standard to climb to the level of accreditation which will allow global confidence in the test results they provide, particularly for industry, health and the environment.
06
Jun
