LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 10 (PIA) -- The Regional Standards and Testing Laboratories (RSTL) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Bicol has obtained three accreditations or certifications seen to bolster an improved quality management system or QMS, laboratory facilities and competent personnel complement.
DOST Bicol regional director Tomas Briñas said the agency has been recently conferred with the Philippine Accreditation Office (PAO) Accredited Testing Laboratory; Philippine National Standard (PNS), ISO/IEC 17025:2005, LA-2010-170A and LA-2010-171A; Certification International, ISO 9001:2008, CIP/4303/10/02/692 and Philippine Accreditation Board (PAB), Accredited Quality Management System (QMS) Certification Body, Accreditation No. MSA-001,
Briñas said following the attainment of laboratory ISO accreditation or certification since May 2010 (with surveillance audits within a five-year period until 2015, the previous resulted to very satisfactory ratings), the RSTL also pursued recognition from government regulatory bodies such as the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Authority (FDA). Another application for recognition is on-going with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“These agencies benefit from the laboratory’s conclusive test results in exercising their regulatory functions,” he said.
RSTL of DOST Bicol offers testing and laboratory services for a) Microbiological Analysis for determination of microbiological characteristics of food raw material, finished product, drinking water and waste water; b) Chemical Analysis for determination of physical and chemical properties of food raw materials and food products, water and waste water; and, other technical services on technology and resource-based food processing, quality assessment, applicable food safety systems [(Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Food Safety Management System (FSMS)], nutrition labeling and packaging
RSTL of DOST Bicol is headed by Mr. Cristopher G. Millena, Science Research Specialist II, a registered chemist and concurrent Technical Manager of Chemistry Laboratory; Vanessa SM Caluza, who manages the microbiological laboratory operations, and Aubrey Rosebud R. Balonzo and Karla Mae A. Dawat, both registered chemists and Bing Pineda, a microbiologist as support staff.
Established in 1993, the office has since been providing laboratory services in the region facilitating test analyses for shorter duration as customers do not have to go to Metro Manila sa avail the same or similar services.
Most of the laboratory services provided for by RSTL- DOST Bicol have test duration in days, the shortest is one (1) day and others for two-three (2-3) days except nitrates in food which is six (6) days; proximate analysis, Vitamin C in juice, Minerals in food and analyses, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Metals for seven (7) days. The longest test duration for Commercial Sterility requires fourteen (14) days excluding a thirteen (13)-day holding period before analysis.
In availing of RSTL services, customers must follow the procedures for sample submission. The staff evaluates the submitted samples and computes the appropriate fees. Customer fills up the Technical Service Request (TSR) form and upon submission is issued an order of payment by the Accountant, pays computed fee/s to the Cashier and presents the official receipt (OR) to staff who records the OR number.
Testing and analyses of samples are on a first-come-first-served basis. As soon as the tests and analyes are completed, RSTL prepares the report for signature of the regional director.
The signed report is released to the customer upon presentation of OR for full payment. In some cases, fifty percent (50%) of the total testing fees is charged upon release of requested sterile bottles for water and ice samples to be submitted for microbiological analyses.
RSTL only accepts samples for BOD analysis on confirmed dates of submission. Confirmation requires payment of non-refundable P550/sample (50%) of testing fees. Payment of remaining fee/s shall be done upon submission of sample/s.
Bicol’s competitive edge is enhanced by the presence of S&T infrastructure and other support services. With RSTL established and maintained, DOST V endeavors to serve more public and private institutions/S&T networks including entrepreneurs, professionals and researchers in the region. (MAL/POLucena/CGMillena-RChDOST5/PIA5)
DOST Bicol regional director Tomas Briñas said the agency has been recently conferred with the Philippine Accreditation Office (PAO) Accredited Testing Laboratory; Philippine National Standard (PNS), ISO/IEC 17025:2005, LA-2010-170A and LA-2010-171A; Certification International, ISO 9001:2008, CIP/4303/10/02/692 and Philippine Accreditation Board (PAB), Accredited Quality Management System (QMS) Certification Body, Accreditation No. MSA-001,
Briñas said following the attainment of laboratory ISO accreditation or certification since May 2010 (with surveillance audits within a five-year period until 2015, the previous resulted to very satisfactory ratings), the RSTL also pursued recognition from government regulatory bodies such as the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Authority (FDA). Another application for recognition is on-going with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“These agencies benefit from the laboratory’s conclusive test results in exercising their regulatory functions,” he said.
RSTL of DOST Bicol offers testing and laboratory services for a) Microbiological Analysis for determination of microbiological characteristics of food raw material, finished product, drinking water and waste water; b) Chemical Analysis for determination of physical and chemical properties of food raw materials and food products, water and waste water; and, other technical services on technology and resource-based food processing, quality assessment, applicable food safety systems [(Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Food Safety Management System (FSMS)], nutrition labeling and packaging
RSTL of DOST Bicol is headed by Mr. Cristopher G. Millena, Science Research Specialist II, a registered chemist and concurrent Technical Manager of Chemistry Laboratory; Vanessa SM Caluza, who manages the microbiological laboratory operations, and Aubrey Rosebud R. Balonzo and Karla Mae A. Dawat, both registered chemists and Bing Pineda, a microbiologist as support staff.
Established in 1993, the office has since been providing laboratory services in the region facilitating test analyses for shorter duration as customers do not have to go to Metro Manila sa avail the same or similar services.
Most of the laboratory services provided for by RSTL- DOST Bicol have test duration in days, the shortest is one (1) day and others for two-three (2-3) days except nitrates in food which is six (6) days; proximate analysis, Vitamin C in juice, Minerals in food and analyses, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Metals for seven (7) days. The longest test duration for Commercial Sterility requires fourteen (14) days excluding a thirteen (13)-day holding period before analysis.
In availing of RSTL services, customers must follow the procedures for sample submission. The staff evaluates the submitted samples and computes the appropriate fees. Customer fills up the Technical Service Request (TSR) form and upon submission is issued an order of payment by the Accountant, pays computed fee/s to the Cashier and presents the official receipt (OR) to staff who records the OR number.
Testing and analyses of samples are on a first-come-first-served basis. As soon as the tests and analyes are completed, RSTL prepares the report for signature of the regional director.
The signed report is released to the customer upon presentation of OR for full payment. In some cases, fifty percent (50%) of the total testing fees is charged upon release of requested sterile bottles for water and ice samples to be submitted for microbiological analyses.
RSTL only accepts samples for BOD analysis on confirmed dates of submission. Confirmation requires payment of non-refundable P550/sample (50%) of testing fees. Payment of remaining fee/s shall be done upon submission of sample/s.
Bicol’s competitive edge is enhanced by the presence of S&T infrastructure and other support services. With RSTL established and maintained, DOST V endeavors to serve more public and private institutions/S&T networks including entrepreneurs, professionals and researchers in the region. (MAL/POLucena/CGMillena-RChDOST5/PIA5)
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