SCL, Establishment of integrated screening process for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis

Establishment of 'special microbiological analysis team' and strengthening of inspection system and professionalism

The Seoul Institute of Science (SCL), an organization specializing in testing, announced on the 1st that it will establish a special microbiological analysis team for effective diagnosis of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, as well as for the organic performance of related tests.

SCL's special microbiological analysis team will start its work in earnest with the aim of strengthening its inspection system and expertise by establishing an integrated inspection process exclusively for testing infectious diseases. Previously, there were limitations compared to the integrated inspection process because the inspection was classified according to the inspection techniques and conducted separately.

In particular, the special microbiological analysis team carries out all tests for diagnosis of tuberculosis, including ▲Antioxidant Bacteria Smear and Culture ▲TB/NTM real-time PCR  ▲Anti-tuberculosis drug sensitivity test ▲Rapid Resistance Test ▲Xpert MTB/RIF  ▲Non-Antioxidant Bacteria Component Analysis ▲Non-Antioxidant Bacteria Sensitivity Test ▲Latent Tuberculosis Diagnostic Test

It also plans to strengthen its research capabilities such as evaluation of testing methods related to infectious diseases, research on resistance mechanisms, classification of rare strains and resourceization of microorganisms through component analysis by increasing expertise by deploying personnel in charge of infectious diseases. In addition, it will work to improve the quality of inspections, including the production of standard materials for external quality control, as well as education of domestic and foreign inspectors.

"Tuberculosis, one of the leading infectious diseases, is a very urgent condition for management such as latent tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis at the highest level of OECD in Korea," an SCL source said. "With the new team of special microbiological analysis, we will contribute to the rapid and accurate diagnosis and improvement of treatment results for patients with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis."