SANAS Accreditation is easy with Lab-i

Obtaining accreditation from the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) is no easy feat. Your laboratory should be able to perform tests according to methods stipulated by SANAS. Your laboratory's processes and procedures are also scrutinised to determine the efficiency of your Quality Management System (QMS).SANAS is the only laboratory accreditation institution recognised by the South African government. A SANAS accreditation certificate proves that your laboratory conforms to international testing and laboratory standards.

QMS integrates various policies, processes and procedures to ensure the flawless functioning of your laboratory.

Various elements are important when considering a quality system for medical devices and laboratories. These elements include:

·         Documentation

·         Purchasing

·         Product identification and traceability

·         Validating processes

·         Product acceptance control

·         Corrective and preventive action when errors occur

·         Labelling and packaging control

·         Handling

·         Storage

·         Distribution and installation

·         Records

Ideally laboratories should rely on a single software solution to monitor and control the above-mentioned processes. Lab-i, QBCon's Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), is a fully customisable LIMS system built around the unique needs of your laboratory.

Lab-i enables laboratories to automate most of its processes, which means that very few human errors can occur. Lab-i also allows you to trace each sample from the moment it enters the laboratory to the moment the results are given to the client. Lab-i documents which analysts worked on the sample, which tests were done and how the tests were done.

Lab-i is fitted with a biometric system. Through fingerprint identification laboratory staff can be held accountable for each sample they have worked on. A full record of the tests performed, analysts involved in the tests, and how the tests were performed can be drawn using only Lab-i.

Lab-i also offers a bar coding system. Once a sample is received, a unique bar code is created and printed for the sample. The bar code is scanned in during each step in the testing process, which makes tracking the progress of the sample as easy as typing in a bar code.

To streamline the reporting process, Lab-i is integrated with the new age Business Intelligence (BI) tool, EasyAsk. EasyAsk allows users to type in a question relating to the laboratory in natural English, similar to an Internet search engine. EasyAsk queries all available databases and draws up a report by analysing all available data. EasyAsk will provide an all-encompassing answer to your query and suggest related questions.

With EasyAsk and Lab-i analysing test results, laboratory staff performance and the testing process is as easy as typing in a question. With Lab-i, you should soon be able to achieve SANAS accreditation.