In Nigeria, there is an aggressive effort underway to raise the quality of medical laboratory testing. One major element involves inspection of clinical laboratories throughout the nation by teams of laboratory professionals working with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN). During 2009, MLSCN has closed 938 substandard and unregistered medical laboratories in all regions of the country. The second major element to improve the quality of lab testing in Nigeria involves the creation of a national accreditation and licensing program.
ADD TO: Nigerian Labs
This summer, Nigeria sent delegates to a meeting organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) that was attended by 13 African countries. The goal is to establish medical laboratory accreditation in nations which have had no such program. Support from the United States is coming through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), implemented through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is also involved in this medical laboratory accreditation program.
TRANSITIONS
- Vijay Aggarwal, Ph.D., has become a Partner at The Channel Group, LLC, of New York City and its affiliate, BioMed Transition Partners. The Channel Group provides venture, investment, development, and management services to life science and biomedical companies. Aggarwal was previously President and CEO of Aureon Laboratories, Inc.
- Joan H. Logue, 73, died of lung cancer on November 20 in her home in Longwood, Florida. Logue, a principal at Health Systems Concepts, was best known for her long association with the Clinical Laboratory Management Association (CLMA). She was one of the founders of CLMA in 1976 and served as its director between 1984 and 1989. She had earlier served as Administrative Director of Pathology at Paoli Hospital between 1968 and 1976.
- Pathologist Donald B. Rix, M.D., 78, of Vancouver, British Columbia, died of cancer on November 6. In the 1960’s, he joined what was then called Metropolitan BioMedical Laboratories (Metro). He is credited with growing this business, which eventually became Metro-McNair Labs. Rix played a key role in the transaction that made Metro-McNair part of MDS. He eventually served as Chairman of MDS Life Sciences (now known as LifeLabs).
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