The Sri Lanka Accreditation Board for Conformity Assessment (SLAB) has been admitted as a signatory to the Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA) of Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Corporation (APLAC) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Corporation (ILAC).

Through these arrangements SLAB Accredited Test Reports and Certificates will be internationally accepted and recognized as equivalent to accredited test reports and certificates issued in other countries, facilitating market access for Sri Lankan products, reported Daily News.

Medical professionals, clinicians and patients will be able to obtain accredited medical test reports with an assurance of high reliability and accuracy. The Medical/Clinical Laboratories accredited by SLAB based on ISO 15189 will be recognized and accepted internationally, the report added.

Accreditation assures technical competence and reliability of reports issued by the laboratories. Five medical laboratories and 21 testing laboratories have been accredited so far by SLAB under the accreditation schemes, the report said.

The accreditation scheme for medical laboratories of SLAB, with recognition from ILAC and APLAC, will contribute to the quality improvement and enhance the recognition of healthcare systems in Sri Lanka.