DOST ONELAB CONTINUALLY EXPANDS NETWORK ABROAD, VISITS TESTING LABORATORY IN VIETNAM

Originally conceived in 2014 as a response to the challenge of initiating the harmonization of testing laboratories in the country, Department of Science and Technology’s OneLab Network has gone a long way from being a network of laboratories in the country to expanding its network abroad.

Short for One-stop Laboratory Services for Global Competitiveness, DOST OneLab is a network of testing and calibration laboratories aimed at ensuring availability and broadening public access to testing and calibration services at a single touchpoint through an IT-based platform.

OneLab uniquely facilitates the seamless laboratory transaction from sample receipt to release of test and calibration results as facilitated by the OneLab Referral System.

With this efficient system, customers and stakeholders get the fastest turn-around time and expanded test and calibration offerings in the market.

Upon signing a memorandum of understanding, it will be adding the Eurofins Scientific Sac Ky Hai Dang located in Vietnam to its list of international member laboratories which currently has eight member laboratories located in Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, and United Arab Emirates.

This is in addition to the local network of members composed of 16 DOST Regional Standard and Testing Laboratories(RSTL's), seven DOST Research and Development Institute(RDI) laboratories and 28 non-DOST testing laboratories.

Admer Rey C. Dablio, registered chemist and the customer relations officer for the OneLab said that Philippine stakeholders such as big companies and micro, small, and medium enterprises will benefit much from membership of testing and calibration laboratories abroad since not all test parameters are within the capability of local laboratories in the country.

“With the growing demand for testing and calibration services from the industry, we need to expand our reach of network so that we can immediately identify laboratories which can cater to identified test and calibration requests needed to ensure raw material and product safety and quality for purpose of regulations, product developments and improvements,” he said.

Eurofins Scientific Sac Ky Hai Dang, an accredited laboratory of Vietnam's Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (VILAS), Bureau of Accreditation (BoA) based on ISO/IEC 17025:2017, is the first testing laboratory visited by the DOST OneLab Project team since the lifting of restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Located at the Saigon Hightech Park, Tan Phu Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chio Minh City, Vietnam, it has testing services for additives, allergens, amino acids, antibiotics/veterinary drugs, dioxins, fatty acid profile, GMO, heavy metals, mycotoxins, nutrition, pesticides, and vitamins.

It also has invested in modern laboratory facilities in Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho City, and a new laboratory newly opened in Ha Noi City, staffed with qualified technical personnel and offers services on analyses for residues and contaminants: pesticides, antibiotics, mycotoxins, heavy metals; nutritional analyses: vitamin testing, carbohydrates testing, amino acid profile analysis, fatty acid analysis, lipids, inorganic components; microbiological testing; analysis of agricultural and aquatic products, processed food, animal and poultry feed; environmental monitoring samples: water, air, soil, mud; and inspection & audit services.

On 3 August 2023, DOST OneLab Project Management Team composed of Project Leader and DOST Regional Office No. IX Assistant Regional Director Ms. Rosemarie S. Salazar, MSc and DOST-ITDI OneLab Project Coordinator and Quality Manager Mr. Admer Rey C. Dablio, RCh, CCPQM was welcomed by the Vietnam laboratory headed by the HCMC Laboratory Manager, Mr. Nguyen Anh Vu and Business Development Manager Ms. Pham Thi Nhan.

Want to be a DOST OneLab Network member? Contact them at email address itdi.onelab@gmail.com.

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By Rosemarie C. Señora, S&T Media Service