Hi-tech pathology laboratory will speed up diagnosis and treatment

ABU DHABI // A high-technology laboratory to test pathology samples being set up in Abu Dhabi will be the first of its kind in the region. The National Reference Laboratory (NRL) will test a wide variety of samples currently sent abroad for analysis. Created by Mubadala Healthcare with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, one of the largest clinical laboratory testing networks in the world, the facility will be internationally accredited by the College of American Pathologists.

As well as routine tests it will also carry out more complex tests, including gene-based tests, which are generally used in the fields of endocrinology, oncology, toxicology and microbiology. Until now many of these tests have been sent abroad because the region does not have adequate facilities. Mark Erhart, executive director of Mubadala Healthcare, said the creation of the NRL will speed up diagnosis in the Emirates. "I am delighted to announce our partnership with LabCorp to create the region's first dedicated reference laboratory," he said.

"Providing international quality laboratory testing services in the region will reduce the delay of diagnosis and treatment and better support the UAE's rapidly growing healthcare service market and increasing population." Clinical laboratory testing is critical in the delivery of healthcare services in almost every field. Doctors use the tests to help diagnose, evaluate, monitor and treat diseases. The tests can be performed on a large number of different samples including body fluids and human tissue.

Mubadala Healthcare said the aim of the new laboratory is to implement international best practices in the testing process, as well as setting a new benchmark in superior quality standards. They claim they will be able to turnaround many critical test results in less than two hours. David King, chief executive of LabCorp, said the lab would significantly advance health care throughout the UAE and the region.

Mubadala Healthcare is the specialist division of Mubadala Development Company, a public joint stock company based in Abu Dhabi. Its sole shareholder is the Government of the UAE. [e-mail]