HSA Updates
HSA Achieved ASHI Accreditation in Tissue Typing
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4 March 2009
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The Health Sciences Authority's Blood Services Group [BSG] achieved another international accreditation when its Tissue Typing Laboratory was accredited by the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics [ASHI] at end December 2008.
2 The Tissue Typing Laboratory which provides specialised support services for bone marrow and solid organ transplants was granted ASHI accreditation for a period of two years till 31 August 2010, with effect from 1 September 2008. Accreditation follows an intensive on-site inspection by ASHI in May 2008 which evaluated laboratory personnel, procedures and facilities to determine if they are in compliance with ASHI standards.
3 In his congratulatory letter to HSA, Dr Michael D. Gautreaux, Co-Chair, ASHI Accreditation Review Board, commended BSG's staff for achieving ASHI's high standards for laboratory performance and patient service. Dr Marieta Chan, BSG's Assistant Laboratory Director [Immunohaematology & Cell Therapy Support] was also appointed as ASHI Accredited Laboratory Director from 30 December 2008.
4 Though ASHI's accreditation procedures are voluntary, BSG has sought ASHI accreditation, which was established in 1974, with the objective of maintaining the highest standards of reliability and quality in Histocompatibility testing laboratories. Singapore is one of only two national blood services accredited in Asia, the other being the Taiwan Blood Services Foundation.
5 This ASHI accreditation is the second international accreditation programme achieved by BSG. It first achieved AABB [formerly known as American Association of Blood Banks] accreditation in 2006 and has since achieved its second 2-year AABB accreditation term. BSG is also the first national blood service in Asia to achieve AABB accreditation in Donor Centre and Transfusion Activities. AABB accreditation for blood banking, transfusion medicine, blood management and cellular therapies is the designation of choice worldwide, as it demonstrates a blood bank's commitment to advanced learning, continuous improvement and innovation by striving to sustain the highest possible levels of patient and donor care.
HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
4 MARCH 2009