The Sheriff General Hospital Laboratory has secured national certification from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), completing the assessment process in under five months.

The laboratory was formally presented with its certification on Thursday after meeting the requirements of the GYS 170:2021 standard across four disciplines – biochemistry, immunology, serology and haematology.

GNBS Executive Director Trevor Bassoo described the achievement as significant, particularly given the speed at which the laboratory completed the process.
"This is no easy task," Bassoo said, noting that the laboratory achieved certification in under five months without any nonconformances.

The GYS 170:2021 standard sets requirements for the operation and management of laboratories, including systems intended to ensure test results are consistent and reliable, minimise operational hazards and support continuous improvement. For patients using the Sheriff laboratory, the certification means its systems and procedures have been assessed against nationally accepted requirements for quality and reliability.

Laboratory Quality Manager Azam Latiff said the achievement followed rigorous evaluations, extensive documentation and a sustained focus on quality assurance.
Sheriff's certification comes as the number of laboratories meeting national standards continues to increase. Bassoo said 45 laboratories across Guyana are now nationally certified, including 32 medical laboratories, with 38 of those certifications achieved within the past six years.

However, Bassoo stressed that obtaining certification is not the end of the process. The GNBS will conduct surveillance and audits to determine whether certified laboratories continue to meet the required standards and improve their systems. He also challenged the Sheriff laboratory and other certified facilities to move beyond national certification and pursue international accreditation.

Health Ministry Inspector Coordinator Jed Williams said the hospital's commitment to meeting laboratory standards was evident from its early stages. Williams, who has been involved with Sheriff General Hospital since its initial licensing and inspections, said the laboratory was first advised about the relevant national standard during those early inspections, and the team subsequently followed through on that recommendation, culminating in Thursday's certification.