Dr. Peter FitzGerald

Briefly tell us about Randox and its activities in the laboratory industry, notably in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Randox is a leading diagnostics company from the United Kingdom with over 40 years of experience in the life sciences sector. From an initial staff complement of 2 people, we now employ over 2,500 staff and maintain considerable investment and capabilities in R&D and innovation. We are currently active in 145 countries around the world. Randox’s core business involves the global provision of analysers and consumable materials to healthcare laboratories, for the analysis of blood and other sample types. Randox has developed a range of analyser systems, including for clinical chemistry, immunoassay, and molecular analysis, alongside the supporting reagents. Randox also provides internal quality control and external quality assurance materials, which are essential to confirm the accuracy and precision of laboratory results. This enables accurate diagnosis by clinicians.

What are your thoughts on the current state of the medical laboratory industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region? What are the key trends and challenges shaping the industry?

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is a dynamic market, agile in nature and with an understanding of the need for innovation in improving patient well-being and healthcare outcomes. This innovative approach is evidenced within the laboratories and in healthcare more generally - where modern technologies are rapidly being adopted. Outside the laboratory setting there are a greater number of quality point of care devices allowing patients to be diagnosed more conveniently and closer to the point of need. As Randox is continually developing modern technologies with the ability to provide early patient diagnosis and prevention, MENA is a region with exciting potential.

Where do you see medical laboratories going in the next 5-10 years?

Our solutions in the sector of laboratory quality management, in particular our RIQAS EQ/PT programmes and internal quantity control materials are very popular, and this area of interest is likely to continue to expand over time. Our updated version of our 24-7 QC software enables laboratories to review and interpret their QC results in real-time, as well as compare themselves to other labs around the world using the same equipment. 

How is Randox fostering innovation and driving research and development in the medical laboratory field. What are some of your recent breakthroughs or projects?

Randox remains focused on growth within the global laboratory market and is committed to supporting laboratories to improve their accuracy, precision, and responsiveness to improve healthcare outcomes. In recent years, Randox have expanded its EQA and QC portfolio to include coverage of PCR techniques for infectious diseases via the QCMD and Qnostics brands, QCMD has over 100 programmes for EQA, and Qnostics covers a wide range of QC, linearity, and validations kit material to assist labs with validating and monitoring their QC results in real-time, as well as compare themselves to other labs around the world using the same equipment. Randox’s expanding QC portfolio includes coverage of PCR techniques for infectious diseases via the QCMD and Qnostics brands. QCMD has over 100 programmes for EQA, and Qnostics covers a wide range of QC, linearity, and validations kit material to assist labs with validating and monitoring their PCR assays. We have found that these products have been especially useful in the post-pandemic era, as labs are now seeking to utilize additional PCR equipment by expanding their PCR testing menu beyond respiratory diseases. 

How is Randox addressing sustainability issues within the medical laboratory industry? What steps are you taking to reduce your environmental footprint and promote sustainable practices?

We believe that our business activities must be aligned with and adopt the principles of sustainable development and environmental stewardship to allow business development whilst protecting the environment, conserving valuable resources and ensuring a positive legacy for future generations. Randox are committed to enhancing our environmental performance through the implementation and continual improvement of our Environmental Management System (EMS), promoting the sourcing of environmentally friendly products during procurement, sourcing the most environmentally sustainable disposal routes for all waste streams produces with the waste hierarchy applied to ensure resources are recovered and diverted from landfill where possible, engaging and communicating with staff and interested parties to improve awareness of sustainability and good environmental practice, promoting energy efficiency measures for improved resource efficiency and purchasing electricity from suppliers with a commitment to renewable energy, and continually reviewing practices to identify inconsistencies and improve processes to conserve resources. 

Can you provide a sneak peek into any new products or services that Randox plans to showcase at Medlab Middle East 2025?

As an independent quality control provider, engaging with a global base of laboratories daily, evolving our QC has always been a key part in being able to meet the needs of our partners and users. We are delighted to continue this with the introduction of our new smart QC line comprising controls for Clinical Chemistry, Immunoassay, Liquid Cardiac and PTH. Designed to fit directly on a range of different analyzers, the Acusera Smart controls are liquid ready-to-use and provided within primary tubes to simplify workflows, minimize, manual set up, reduce waste and handling.

Streamline Workflow - Reduce QC handling by removing manual steps and consolidate multiple controls into one, workflow is optimized saving valuable laboratory time and reducing wastage due to dead volume.

Clinically Significant - The presence of analytes at key decision levels not only helps to ensure accurate instrument performance but maximises laboratory efficiency by eliminating the need for additional low/high level controls at extra expense.

Consolidate and Save - Through consolidation of multiple controls into one, Acusera Smart offers real benefits to the laboratory; minimizing stock management and ordering, reducing inventory and saving time with less manual handling and QC set up time.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Randox is committed to improving healthcare globally. The company remains at the forefront of the advanced diagnostics sector which it believes is crucial to achieving improved health outcomes while relieving the strains and costs which currently inhibit the provision of healthcare.