The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute is the first diagnostic laboratory in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to be accredited by the College of American Pathologists in 2011 for all services that it provides. It provides diagnostic laboratory services for the patients of SKMC, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. WIth its team of skilled personnel and state of the art equipment and technology, the Institute strives to continually improve its processes to bench mark with international standards and best practices, thus ensuring satisfaction and service excellence at all times. 

The patient population served by the Laboratory Medicine Institute consists of newborn, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients seeking care at SKMC, including the Family Medicine Clinics, the Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation Center and the Behavioral Sciences Pavilion. In addition, the Institute also provides services for other hospitals under Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), as well as other MOH hospitals and clinics.

The laboratory is staffed by more than 170 employees including management, technical staff, consultants, pathologists, clinical scientists, specialists and residents. Laboratory clinical staff and pathologists are all licensed by HAAD as senior consultants and hold either American and/or Canadian board certifications. Clinical Scientists hold a PhD in Science while technical staff hold a Degree in medical laboratory technology, science or phlebotomy.

In 2007, the laboratory at SKMC installed the first Total Laboratory Automation (TLA) System in the UAE. It offers a Total Automation Solution for the main hematology and clinical chemistry laboratories, enabling them to perform more than 80% of the tests in real-time.

The Institute also provides training for medical technology graduates from various UAE colleges & universities.

Standards of Practice

The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department adheres to the International Clinical Laboratory Standards (ICLS) for most of its procedures. In addition, the Department follows a host of laboratory standards and clinical practice guidelines listed below:

• American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
• College of American Pathologists (CAP)
• National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB)
• The British Columbia “Minimal Reporting Guidelines” for the treatment of cancer patients
• Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories
• British Columbia Medical Association
• CDC Hospital Infection Program fact sheet