KENAS Accredits IOM Kenya's Migration Health Assessment Centre Nairobi Laboratory
Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) has accredited the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Kenya's Migration Health Assessment Centre (MHAC) Nairobi Laboratory to ISO 15189:2022 – Medical Laboratories – Requirements for Quality and Competence.
The accreditation covers the laboratory's scope in Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology (Mycobacteriology), and Immunology (Serology), demonstrating that these services have been independently assessed and found to meet internationally recognised requirements for quality and technical competence.
Supporting Confidence in Migration Health Services
Migration health assessment centres play an important role in protecting public health by providing medical examinations for migrants and other mobile populations. Laboratory services are at the heart of these assessments, generating results that support clinical decision-making and, where applicable, immigration health requirements. The accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of these results are therefore critical.
The accredited scope reflects key areas of laboratory medicine that are essential to migration health. Clinical Chemistry supports the assessment of organ function and general health, Microbiology (Mycobacteriology) plays a vital role in the detection of tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases of public health significance, while Immunology (Serology) supports the diagnosis and monitoring of infectious diseases through the detection of antibodies and other immunological markers.
By achieving ISO 15189:2022 accreditation, IOM Kenya has demonstrated that these services are delivered within a robust quality management system by competent personnel using validated methods and internationally accepted best practices.
The Value of Accreditation
ISO 15189:2022 is the international standard that specifies the requirements for quality and competence in medical laboratories. Accreditation to this standard provides independent assurance that a laboratory consistently produces reliable and accurate results that are fit for their intended clinical purpose.
For migration health programmes, this assurance is particularly important. Reliable laboratory results contribute to sound clinical decisions, strengthen confidence among healthcare providers, governments, and international partners, and support the delivery of quality healthcare services to people on the move.
KENAS' Role
As Kenya's National Accreditation Body, KENAS accredits competent medical laboratories against internationally recognised standards through rigorous assessments conducted by qualified lead assessors and technical experts. Accreditation is complemented by regular surveillance and reassessment to ensure laboratories continue to maintain the required level of competence.
Through accreditation, KENAS contributes to strengthening Kenya's healthcare system by promoting confidence in diagnostic services, supporting regulatory oversight, and facilitating the international recognition of laboratory results.
A Commitment to Quality and Excellence
KENAS congratulates the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Kenya on this important achievement.
The accreditation of the Migration Health Assessment Centre Nairobi Laboratory is a testament to IOM Kenya's commitment to quality, technical competence, and continual improvement. It also highlights the critical role accreditation plays in ensuring that medical laboratories provide results that healthcare professionals, patients, regulators, and international stakeholders can trust.
As more medical laboratories embrace accreditation, Kenya continues to strengthen its quality infrastructure, improve confidence in healthcare services, and support better health outcomes. KENAS remains committed to working with healthcare institutions and other conformity assessment bodies to advance excellence through internationally recognised accreditation.
