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Our Target is:
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to support the patients through rapid and reliable analysis of clinical specimens;
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to give suggestions on the appropriateness, interpretation & limitations of different tests;
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to develop their service in response according to the needs of the users, to evaluate and employ new techniques and instrumentations and to invest in the professional development of the staff.
Ashok Laboratory has policies and procedures, which constantly monitor the three phases of analysis to ensure quality in the completely testing process – from blood collection to providing test reports.
Their internal quality control program uses an integrated informatics system first time in Eastern India, that by means of a computer connected with laboratory instrumentation, allows monitoring of global error (bias, random, gross) using classical statistical quality control systems, integrated by auxiliary methods built on a database stored in the computer. These methods reduced bias and random error in the most frequent laboratory tests.
They subscribe to external quality assessment schemes such as Bio-Rad Laboratories EQAS, ISHTM – CMC EQAS, ACBI / CMC EQAS and Ashok Laboratory, Centre for Transfusion Medical and Clinical Research (Blood Bank) was set up in 1994 under the guidance of eminent haematologist Dr. Dilip Kumar Bhattacharya. The main force behind this endevour was Dr. Ratnamala Roy, the founder of Ashok Laboratory. This was the first blood bank in West Bengal. This was set up only to collect, process and supply blood to the ailing populace, but also to search for scientific facts in a field relatively unknown at that time. This was incidentally the first blood bank in eastern India to be granted license by both the Central and State Drug Controller's office.
From supplying whole blood, the institution progressed to component separation of whole blood, and has always promoted rational use of transfusion. This was the first blood bank to start automation, and screening for hepatitis C virus even before it was made mandatory by regulating authorities. This was also the first and only stand alone blood bank to screen for HIV antigen. The motto of this blood bank is "quality alone succeeds and nothing else". Presently, the institution is managed by a Trust which has got exemptions under sections 80A and 80G of the Income tax act. Besides arranging for blood collection and distribution, this trust also provides medical help to needy people by arranging medical camps and thalassemia screening camps at blind schools, or during puja times. It also runs campaigns for thalassemia eradication, and provides blood to thalassemia patients for free.the Unity Inter-laboratory Comparison Program. Besides providing a peer review of their performance, it also provides an indication of the precision in their testing process and competence of their staff.
They operate, maintain and calibrate their analysers, measuring instruments and test equipments according to manufacturer’s instructions. Staff training and continuing education programs are also provided.
Internal audits are conducted at planned intervals to determine if they have conformed, implemented and maintained their quality management, their compliance to regulatory and accreditation requirements. They have regular reviews to follow up and address recurrent problems, evaluate new or redesigned activities.
Their Department has been accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories (NABL) since 2002 as per ISO/IEC 17025; on 2005 accreditation status upgrades as per ISO15189:2003, and finally shifted as per ISO15189:2007.
Ashok Laboratory has developed the necessary infrastructure, expertise and NABL accreditation for the following disciplines:
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