EVMC Diagnostic Laboratory Receives International Accreditation

Equine Veterinary Medical Center’s (EVMC) diagnostic laboratory has been awarded an accreditation by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation that demonstrates its commitment to delivering exceptional services.

The ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation from the International Organization for Standards showcases that the diagnostic laboratory at Equine Veterinary Medical Center, a member of Qatar Foundation, is operating at the highest standard, delivering accurate, reliable, and timely test results.

Led by the Head of EVMC’s diagnostic laboratory, Dr. Mohammad Ali, and supported by his team, the  laboratory underwent a stringent evaluation process of assessment against ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Biological Field, including compliance with the A2LA Veterinary Laboratory Accreditation Program Requirements, containing 2021 National Laboratory Health Network (NLHN-USDA) Quality Standard Harmonization of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostician (AAVLD) of testing standards conformity.

Dr. Ali said: “Despite the ongoing pandemic, the diagnostic laboratory has attained this achievement. The accreditation is an international gold standard for laboratory quality assurance, and when coupled with NLHN Quality Standard Harmonization of the AAVLD, it is certainly an achievement to be proud of.

“The accreditation involved a multitude of complex and interwoven assessment processes, and establishment of proficiency testing programs and quality assurance and quality control services to achieve the required standards.

“This is a unique achievement for a veterinary diagnostic laboratory in the region, and once again EVMC is at the forefront of veterinary advancement, raising the bar for other similar centers in the Middle East. The accreditation certification would not have been possible without the commitment and hard work of my highly focused team, and we remain dedicated to retaining this accreditation.”

Accreditation of new diagnostic tests are being planned for 2022, which will contribute to Qatar’s capacity to perform advanced laboratory tests for horses locally instead of sending the samples abroad, reducing turnaround times of test results, as well as lowering shipping and handling charges.Additionally, it will help develop relationships with the local equine industry and overseas organizations including the World Organization for Animal Health.

“One of the primary facets of our strategy at EVMC is to develop a world-class diagnostic capacity, which also contributes towards the high-end research carried out at the center. This accreditation and its maintenance will go a long way in ensuring that we reach that level of aspiration,” said Saad Khalid, Acting Director, EVMC.

With 10 functional operating units ranging from veterinary hematology, clinical chemistry, parasitology, cytology, serology, endocrinology, microbiology, molecular diagnostics to histopathology and necropsy services for the horses, EVMC’s laboratory has performed more than 20,000 diagnostic tests since the beginning of operation in August 2018.