HCM CITY — More hospitals in Việt Nam have received ISO 15189:2012 certification after showing progress in management and ensuring quality in testing processes.

HCM City’s Chợ Rẫy Hospital yesterday was granted the international standard ISO 15189:2012 certification for tests of biochemistry, haematology and microorganisms.

In the southern region, the hospital was the first to achieve the latest standards for the ISO 15189:2012 certification, including 25 criteria on management and quality of medical laboratories.

More criteria were issued in November 2012 for ISO 15189:2012, replacing ISO 15189:2007 with 23 new criteria.

At the ceremony, Dr Phạm Xuân Đà, head of the Ministry of Science and Technology’s office in the southern region, praised the hospital’s progress in testing processes, saying it would bring the best benefits to its patients.

He said it was a model for other hospitals in the country.

Dr Nguyễn Trường Sơn, head of the hospital, said that the hospital would apply the ISO 15189:2012 standard in its molecular biology ward and ISO 9001 for other areas.

Apart from the new certification, the Chợ Rẫy Hospital’s Oncology Centre announced that it has a new total laboratory automation system called Accelerator a3600 which quickly processes laboratory tests to aid in early diagnosis of disease.

In the past, it often took two to three hours to analyse one sample. With the Accelerator a3600 modular system, the lab can process up to 3,600 samples per hour with fast, precise results.

The system, used in both pre- and post-analysis, can analyse 200 kinds of tests.

Sơn said the Accelerator’s standardised testing processes had improved health examinations and treatment.

The hospital admits about 10,000 patients daily.

Sixteen labs at hospitals in Hà Nội also received ISO 15189:2012 accreditation. — VNS