Singapore’s engagement with international standards for medical laboratory quality and competence took another step forward in spring 2026, as Dr Adrian Yeo, Convenor of the National Mirror Working Group on ISO/TC 212, travelled to Vancouver, Canada, to participate in the 43rd meeting of ISO/TC 212/WG 1 on Quality and competence in the medical laboratory. Hosted by the Standards Council of Canada and held from 29 April to 1 May 2026, the meeting brought together international experts to advance a set of standards that underpin how medical laboratories around the world demonstrate quality, validate methods, and assure the safety and competence of their operations.
A Working Week in Project Teams
Mr Yeo participated as a member of two project teams during the dedicated project team sessions on 29 April. Both projects are central to the future of medical laboratory standardisation:
- Guidance for emerging technologies intended for medical laboratory use — a technical specification designed to help laboratories navigate the introduction of new technologies into routine practice. WG1 recommended that the document advance to its next development stage, alongside a refined title clarifying its focus on the implementation of emerging technologies in medical laboratories.
- Validation and verification of quantitative and qualitative methods — a guidance document being structured to apply broadly across laboratory disciplines, with practical validation and verification examples to support real-world use. WG1 recommended that this work also progress to the next development stage.
These updates matter for Singapore’s medical laboratory community because both standards, once published, are likely to inform how Singaporean laboratories validate new methods, adopt emerging technologies, and align with international good practice.
Looking Across the WG1 Portfolio
The WG1 sessions on 30 April and 1 May provided a broader view of the working group’s portfolio. The session covered an update on ISO/TS 20914 on practical guidance for the estimation of measurement uncertainty, which is scheduled for systematic review later this year and may be considered for elevation to full ISO standard status. Given that measurement uncertainty reporting is a key requirement for compliance with ISO 15189, this is an area where Singapore representation may add particular value as the review unfolds.
The working group also discussed the ongoing evolution of standards on laboratory safety — with an expanded scope to include point-of-care testing — and on guidance for personnel training and competence, an early-stage project on which Singapore’s NMWG has been included as a Project Team member.
In a useful resource for laboratory professionals more broadly, WG1 also released a public webinar on the interpretation of key clauses in ISO 15189:2022 — accessible through the ISO/TC 212 committee page.
Next Stop: Singapore
The next meeting of ISO/TC 212 will take place in Singapore from 20 to 22 October 2026 — a significant moment for Singapore’s medical laboratory standards community. Hosting the plenary brings the global TC 212 community to Singapore’s doorstep, opening up an opportunity for Singapore-based experts in laboratory medicine, quality management, and related disciplines to engage with international counterparts and contribute to shaping standards that will affect laboratory practice worldwide.
CoRE-SDO welcomes Singapore-based experts who are interested in joining the NMWG on ISO/TC 212 or in contributing to any of the active WG1 projects. With the Singapore plenary just months away, there is no better moment for new contributors to step in.