National Measurement Institute responds to COVID-19.
The National Measurement Institute (NMI) has stepped up to enable manufacturers and laboratories to quickly and effectively meet the COVID-19 challenge.
“Testing and measuring with certainty has rarely been more important than it is right now in responding to COVID-19,” said the NMI’s Chief Executive and Chief Metrologist, Bruce Warrington.
“The NMI has always played a vital role in supporting manufacturing and community safety, giving regulators, industry and consumers confidence in the quality of products and services,” Dr Warrington said.
“We can help ensure that personal protective equipment (PPE), instruments and tests used by laboratories and frontline clinical staff fighting COVID-19 have appropriate quality controls.”
Dr Warrington said the NMI, together with the other members of Australia’s national standards and conformance network (Standards Australia, NATA and JAS-ANZ), have released advice on standards, test methods, accredited laboratories and certifiers to assist with the design, manufacture and procurement of medical PPE.
He said the NMI was also establishing new testing capabilities to address identified priority areas.
Dr Warrington said the Institute was active in numerous other areas related to the fight against COVID-19.
He said its quality assurance for molecular biology and genetics provided reference materials and controls to ensure comparable pathology testing and minimise false positive and negative test results.
It also develops standards for COVID-19 for Australia’s clinical laboratories.
Dr Warrington said the NMI’s other COVID-19 activities included calibrating medical devices and measurements.
He said the Institute was equipped to analyse nanoparticle-based disinfection systems and cleaning units and can also assess UV sterilisers that clean surfaces and air, calibrate ear thermometers, test respiratory devices and provide reference gases for testing equipment.
The Institute also provides manufacturing and industrial measurement services, and can help industry design and re-tool manufacturing for urgently needed products.
Dr Warrington said the NMI could help manufacturers design, prototype, test and comply with regulations.
It also offers analytical laboratory services and measurement consulting and training, he said.
Further information about the NMI’s response to COVID-19 can be accessed at this PS News link.
