JANAAC, Only Reference Point For COVID-19 Testing

As of Friday 28th January 2022, persons wishing to obtain information on approved COVID-19 testing facilities in Jamaica will only be able to do so through the public website of the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), www.janaac.gov.jm. There are forty (40) approved COVID-19 testing facilities currently in Jamaica. The public may access the full list by clicking “COVID-19 Cabs” on the navigation menu, which will reveal all facilities in alphabetical order and region; their scope, email addresses and contact numbers. Periodic updates are also made to the Agency’s social media pages. Chief Executive Officer of JANAAC, Sharonmae Shirley said the move follows recent streamlining efforts with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW), to standardize COVID-19 testing on the island and that entities in the process of completing competence assessments, will be added to the list as their results become available. “It is important to note that accreditation and pre-accreditation are scope specific,” offered Shirley “and that each entity must demonstrate the ability to competently analyze and consistently produce results, which are fit for purpose.” She said that JANAAC provides confidence to all stakeholders concerning the accuracy of COVID-19 test results, used to make medical decisions and to inform protocols for the management of the pandemic. An agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), JANAAC is the only internationally recognised accreditation body in the English-speaking Caribbean. The Agency plays a critical role in facilitating trade and safeguarding the health and wellbeing of consumers across industries. Its accreditation services for laboratories, inspection bodies and certification bodies in Jamaica are well documented, with accreditation clients in nine (9) regional territories, namely Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Suriname, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. JANAAC has accredited entities such as CARPHA Trinidad and Jamaica.

JANAAC ACCREDITED ENTITIES AND ENTITIES APPROVED UNDER THE PRE-ACCREDITATION APPROVAL PROGRAMME (PAAP) FOR COVID-19 TESTING

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