The Medical Research Institute (MRI) which conducts a large number of PCR tests has been accredited and all state and private laboratories which conduct PCR tests will be accredited soon with WHO assistance, Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.
According to Dr. Jasinghe, all state owned laboratories will be accredited and the four private laboratories should obtain accreditation independently,with their funds. Thereafter, all PCR tests in Sri Lanka will be carried out only through accredited laboratories, Dr. Jasinghe said.
Dr. Jasinghe said that some of the 20 state laboratories which now perform PCR tests will be accredited through the Hong Kong Laboratory where a prominent Sri Lankan, Prof Malik Peiris is attached to and the rest of the state laboratories will be accredited through a UK system.
Dr. Jasinghe said this will be done to run laboratories in the future because Covid-19 will continue for a long time. At present, state health authorities constantly monitor all laboratories which conduct PCR tests. After accreditation, the laboratories will function independently.
Accreditation is the certification of competency, authority, or credibility.
Accreditation grants credit or recognition, to an institution that maintains suitable standards. It is necessary for any institution to prove that they meet a general standard of quality.