How ISO 17025 Helps Nigerian Medical Labs Deliver Safe and Accurate Test Results
What is ISO 17025 ?
ISO 17025 is one of the key international standard this ensures testing and calibration labs produce accurate, reliable and high quality results. In Nigeria medical and pharmaceutical labs plays a vital role in healthcare sectors,
This blog explores why ISO 17025 matters and what all the benefits and the steps to achieve certification. We also discuss common challenges organization faces and how PopularCert simplifies the process, by making certification smooth, affordable, and hassle-free.
Understanding ISO 17025
- Let’s understand what does ISO 17025 means: ISO 17025 is one of the international standard for testing and collaborating in laboratories. Organization can get ISO 17025 certification it shows that organization have followed the standards and service meet’s the expectations.
- How it’s different from ISO 15189: This both standards are related to laboratory quality management, the only difference is ISO 17025 is a general standards for all types of testing and calibration laboratories, whereas ISO 15189 standard majorly concentrate only on specifically designed for medical laboratories.
- ISO 17025 roles in laboratory and quality assurance: it helps to establish a comprehensive set of requirement for testing and collaboration laborites.
Importance of ISO 17025 in Nigerian Medical labs and pharmaceutical
This standard is very crucial because medical laboratory plays critical role in healthcare sectors.
- Medical laboratories aid the health sector by conducting tests that aid in the diagnosis of diseases and the monitoring of treatment procedures.
Along with supporting treatment procedures, accurate test results confirm right clinical decisions are made during the treatment process. - ISO 17025 offers a framework that assists labs in achieving accuracy, reliability and consistency within their test results.
- Adherance to these mandates also increases the effectiveness of laboratories, enabling them to work with greater speed and efficiency.
- Precise and correct testing is fundamental to the well being of the patient by reducing the chances of misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment practices.
- High standards are maintained by the laboratories and this in turn enhances the confidence of patients, doctors, and other healthcare professionals which strengthens the health care system in all respects.
Benefits of ISO 17025 for Nigerian Medical Labs
- Guaranteeing Accurate outcomes and adept task: ISO 17025 guarantees accurate and reliable test results because the proper procedure was followed, the right equipment was selected, and appropriate personnel were trained.
- Complying with regulations: It enables laboratories to legally and health-wise comply avoiding sanctions and facilitating government inspections and transparency of processes.
- Achieving the same effect with a lot less effort: with improved processes, laboratories increase accuracy and the promptness of delivery which reduces time and other resources spent.
- Increased Business Value: Trustworthy and prompt delivery of results strengthens the collaboration with doctors and patients, improving the overall reputation and quality of the organization.
- Expanding Collaboration: Adherence to global standards through ISO 17025 enables laboratories to acquire international collaborations, investments, and business expansion.
Recognition of learning oriented laboratory: It encourages all laboratories to continuously learn new things and methods and improve in order to apply new approaches and technology.
Types Of Certification
- ISO Certification
- ISO 9001 Certification
- ISO 14001 Certification
- ISO 45001 Certification
- ISO 22000 Certification
- ISO 27001 Certification
- ISO 17025 Certification
- ISO 13485 Certification
- ISO 20000-1 Certification
- ISO 22301 Certification
- ISO 50001 Certification
- ISO 37001 Certification
- IATF 16949 Certification
- ISO 29001 Certification
- ISO 31000 Certification
- ISO 20121 Certification
- ISO 10002 Certification
- ISO 41001 Certification
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Key steps for Nigerian Medical Labs to Achieve ISO 17025 Certification
- Get a Consultant: Speak to a PopularCert or any good consultant that will be able to assist you with the step in which you are stuck in. Using our consulting services can help ease stress for you and avoid making mistakes.
- Set Goals: Make a plan on how to implement each change. Determine what policies, procedures, and other documentation will need to be established in order to stay compliant.
- Check Your System: You should assess your current organization and evaluate it against the ISO 17025 standards. This will aid you in identifying what needs to be done in order to meet the certification requirements.
- Educate Your Personnel: Train all your staff on their roles in regards to ISO 17025 standards. Thorough training makes sure that all staff knows what is to be done and how to maintain such a standard in the course of their everyday activities.
- Self Inspection: Carry out an internal audit so that you can check if you are in the right direction. This will assist you in addressing any concerns that arise before the official certification audit so that they can be resolved accordingly.
- Proceed to Certification: Once everything is in place, the certifying authority will check if your organization adheres to the policy. If everything checks out, an official ISO certificate will be issued.
Challenges and solutions in Implementing ISO 17025 in Nigeria
There are several problems that arise during the adoption of ISO 17025 standards. Below are common problems and possible solutions.
- Change Resistance: Employees do not want to expend any additional effort, or at the very least not the amount that is expected of them.
- Solution: Foster training and assist with their understanding with tangible examples.
- Document Management Issues: Trying to keep up with different manuals, SOPs, and various records can prove to be difficult.
- Solution: Adopt computerized systems, a well-structured approach, and frequent training as a way to keep the organization tidy.
- Prolonged time span of receiving the certificate and its burdening nature: Getting certification is often a lengthy undertaking, and can be very taxing at times.
- Solution: Look for the right consultancy firm, perform internal audits, and always touch base with the certification agencies.
- Assessment and training related certification costs: The costs incurred during the assessments and the costs for the training sessions are expensive.
- Solution: Government, grants, and gradual implementation of these expenses can help alleviate the burden of finances.
- Shortage of trained personnel: Professionals in quality management are often hard to come by.
- Solution: Fund their education to a certain extent, or employ them directly from the educational institutions.
Cost of the ISO 17025 Certification in Nigeria
Similar to other nations, what determines the cost of ISO 17025 certification in Nigeria is distinct because they are influenced by the size and complexity of the laboratory within the country. These usually cover the scope of services, whether a particular laboratory requires an ISO 17025 certification to be performed on it, and what certification body it selects to work with. Initial assessment and documentation review, employee training, internal audit services, and the final certification audit are the key parts of the fee. Smaller laboratories would pay less, while bigger, or more intricate operations would pay more.
Why Choose PopularCert For Business Operating In Nigeria?
PopularCert has plenty of experience in working with clients from Nigeria because we are one of the top east Africa based consulting companies. It has abundant consulting resources because all of its employees are leading experts from all domains. All of them contribute to the common goal: to help businesses meet international requirements and gain competitive advantage. We believe in taking the circumvention approach to complexities in business compliance because the compliance simplifies following international rules instead of creating too many headaches.
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FAQ
What is ISO 17025?
Working with testing and calibration laboratories? Meet international standard ISO 17025. It considers a combination of requirements to ensure laboratories generate results that are accurate and reliable.
Who needs ISO 17025 certification?
Any laboratory looking to prove their reliability and competence in testing or calibration needs to get ISO 17025 certification.
What are the benefits of ISO 17025?
- Guarantees the lab results will be precise and accurate.
- Helps the firm gain confidence from the customers and regulators.
- Improves the standing of the lab and increases competition.
How long does it take to get certified?
Certification is usually completed within 6 months to 1 year depending on the coverage of the lab and other prerequisites that need to be met.
Is ISO 17025 mandatory?
No, it’s not mandatory, but a lot of clients and sectors expect this evidence of a laboratory’s competence.