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A Department of Health laboratory had become the first to be accredited under the medical programme of the Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS) operated by the Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS) under the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC).

The HKAS today (March 8) presented an accreditation certificate to the Virology Division of the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch under the Centre of Health Protection, Department of Health, to give accreditation on its technical competence in clinical microbiology and infection under the HOKLAS medical testing test category.  

HOKLAS is a voluntary scheme open to Hong Kong laboratories performing objective testing and calibration within the scope of the scheme and meet the HOKLAS criteria of competence.  The area of medical testing was added to the scope of accreditation by HOKLAS in February, 2004.  Laboratories accredited by HOKLAS are recognised as technically competent in this field by accreditation bodies in 40 economies worldwide under mutual recognition arrangements with HKAS.

"Public and private clinical pathology laboratories providing diagnostic testing services in five pathology disciplines - anatomical pathology, chemical pathology, clinical microbiology and infection, haematology and immunology - can seek accreditation under HOKLAS," an ITC spokesman said.

"Accreditation criteria are based on the new international standard for medical laboratories, ie, ISO 15189:2003 'Medical laboratories - Particular requirements for quality and competence'.  Hong Kong is among the pioneers in adopting this new standard to accredit medical laboratories. Laboratories seeking accreditation undergo rigorous onsite assessments by experts in the medical testing field and they must participate in proficiency testing programmes and achieve satisfactory results.

"This accreditation was granted after rigorous on-site assessments carried out by overseas experts in accordance with the ISO 15189: 2003. HKAS congratulates the laboratory of their success in obtaining accreditation.

"Medical laboratory testing underpins the quality of medical services.  The accreditation programme for medical laboratories contributes to the upgrading of the service standard of medical testing laboratories and will benefit the community.

"There is an increasing need for medical laboratories to demonstrate that they are up to international standards and accreditation is one way of meeting this need. The accreditation programme on medical testing provides an opportunity for medical laboratories to demonstrate their competence through a third party - HOKLAS," the spokesman said.

HOKLAS was launched in 1985 and currently has 122 laboratories accredited for a wide range of testing fields including electrical and electronic products, textiles and garments, toys and children's products, food, calibration services, environmental, construction materials,  chemical testing, Chinese medicine, physical and mechanical testing and medical testing.

Details of the accreditation programme on medical testing and relevant application documents are available on the HKAS website at www.info.gov.hk/itc/hkas.  Laboratories interested in the programme may contact HKAS on 2829 4837. Applications can be submitted to the HKAS at 36/F Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.  

Ends/Tuesday, March 8, 2005

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