Biogenix Labs, a G42 Healthcare company and the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC) have jointly launched the first Proficiency Testing (PT) programme for COVID-19 external testing procedures in a bid to reach out all laboratories across the UAE working to combat the pandemic crisis across the UAE.

Established in 2009, ADQCC aims to develop and implement product safety, conformity schemes and legal metrology to attain the highest consumer trust. In line with this goal, the PT programme has also been launched with the aim of achieving the standard of quality assurance for COVID-19 testing across the UAE which will guarantee accuracy and efficiency in the diagnostic methodology of the laboratories.

The PT process consisted of COVID-19 RT-PCR samples developed by Biogenix Labs which were sent to more than 15 government and private laboratories across the country. Later, the ADQCC evaluated the results and sent them back to the labs for checking their quality standards. As per a WAM report, five different platforms were tested during the initial survey samples, which also included LamPORE that combines loop-mediated isothermal amplification with nanopore sequencing.

Several platforms such as RT-PCR diagnostic procedures, LamPORE sequencing methods and isothermal amplification methods are being used by Biogenix Labs to carry out COVID-19 molecular testing. Furthermore, tens of thousands RT-PCR tests are conducted by the lab every day. Since the beginning of its operations, it has processed over 600,000 samples.

Speaking over the development, Ashish Koshy, CEO of G42 Healthcare, thanked ADQCC for its faith on the company in the national fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. He further expressed happiness over G42 Healthcare's collaboration with ADQCC in a bid to set the benchmark in accurate and reliable testing.

"We are very pleased to collaborate with ADQCC and become the first laboratory in the UAE privileged to provide the COVID-19 PT program. We will work together with UAE labs to troubleshoot any deficiencies discovered and raise testing standards to ensure that a high degree of safety, accuracy and efficiency is adopted for population-scale detection and diagnosis across the UAE," Ashish Koshy said.

Under the G42 Healthcare, Biogenix Labs has been making all efforts to safeguard the health of the UAE community by ensuring the highest quality standards. Significantly, it was the first lab in the country to receive the ISO15189 accreditation for COVID RT PCR and COVID antibodies (IgG & IgM) from the UAE's federal accreditation body, the Emirates National Accreditation System (ENAS). It has been working in accordance with the protocols issued by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH) while maintaining international standards in the fight to combat the virus. Biogenix Labs guarantees a high degree of reliability and community confidence in their test results.

Situated in Masdar city of Abu Dhabi, Biogenix Labs is changing the landscape and definition of reference laboratories in the region. It operates to Biosafety Level 3 standards, ensuring quality testing procedures, fastest turnaround time, and efficient processes. Moreover, Biogenix Labs is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and mechanisms, including real-time PCR, fully automated extractors, immunoassay, liquid handlers, immunoassay, chemistry and hematology analysers.

WAM