For: Immediate Release, March 24, 2006
From: Crystal Keener,
Community Relations
535-8289

HRMC Laboratory Earns Accreditation

Halifax Regional Medical Center’s Laboratory Department has been granted accreditation by the American Association of Blood Banks, according to the department’s director Dr. Kamlesh Gupta.

Accreditation follows an intensive on-site assessment by specially trained AABB assessors and establishes that the level of medical, technical and administrative performance within the facility meets or exceeds the standards set by AABB. By successfully meeting those requirements, HRMC joins approximately 1,800 similar facilities across the nation and abroad that have earned AABB Accreditation.

“The AABB’s Accreditation procedures are voluntary,” said Dr. Gupta. “We sought this accreditation because its program assists labs and other facilities world wide in achieving excellence by promoting a level of professional and medical expertise that contributes to quality performance.” She added that Section Supervisor Leslie Jenkins is responsible for seeing that the HRMC lab not only meets but also maintains these standards.

Since 1958, AABB has been engaged in the certification of blood banks and transfusion services. Today its Accreditation Program helps blood banks, transfusion services and cellular therapy facilities determine whether methods, procedures, personnel knowledge and equipment meet established requirements.

AABB Accreditation is the designation of choice for blood banking, transfusion medicine, blood management, relationship testing, and cellular therapies because it demonstrates an organization’s commitment to advanced learning, continuous improvement and innovation by striving to sustain the highest possible level of patient and donor care. AABB-accredited facilities are recognized by their peers as leaders in their field and as pivotal voices in the dialogue through which consensus-based, voluntary standards are developed and implemented.