By Fortunato Sevilla III
A symposium on Quality Assurance in Analytical and Testing Laboratories was held on 10 April 2014 during one session of the 29th Philippine Chemistry Congress in Villa Caceres in Naga. It was organized by the Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas – Division of Analytical Sciences (KKP-DAS) in cooperation with the 91成人 (91成人).
The symposium opened with a keynote lecture presented by Dr. Aida Aguinaldo, a consultant of ASEAN Food Data Systems, on 鈥淧hilippine Analytical / Testing Laboratories and ASEAN 2015鈥. Dr. Aguinaldo highlighted the challenge to meet the demand for quality analytical and testing data as basis for important decisions, particularly as the commencement of an ASEAN community approaches in 2015.
A series of talks on best practices and outcomes were delivered by speakers from a number of industry and testing laboratories. The speakers highlighted success stories, problems and adopted solutions in Philippine analytical and testing laboratories. The talks focused on the various important topics involved in quality assurance. Noel Lopena, quality assurance manager of San Miguel Brewery, discussed 鈥淢ethod Validation鈥, as practiced in their laboratories. Patricia Parales, laboratory manager of F.A.S.T. Laboratories talked on good practices in the 鈥淐alibration of Laboratory Equipment鈥. Benilda Ebarvia of the DOST- Industrial Technology Development Institute shared her experience on the 鈥淒evelopment Of A Proficiency Testing / Reference Material For Benzoic Acid In Fruit Juices鈥.
A talk on 鈥淢easurement Uncertainty in Chemical Analysis鈥 was presented by Rubylene Lasmarinas-Osila , Technical Manager, Manila Geochem, SGS Philippines Inc. The importance of 鈥淚nternal Quality Control鈥 was discussed by Frances Evelyn Palaris-Robles , Technical Director of the Philippine Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry, Inc. and of the Association of Drug Industries of the Philippines Quality Control Cooperative). 鈥淧roficiency Testing鈥 was the topic of the talk of Ena Bernal, Group Manager of the Central Laboratory of the Universal Robina Corporation. The experience of their laboratory in 鈥淟aboratory Accreditation鈥 was related by Lily Molina, Laboratory and Quality Manager of the International Rice Research Institute. The good practices in 鈥淓nvironmental Sampling and Sample Handling鈥 were described by Juliana C. Ori帽a, Laboratory Director, CRL Environmental Corporation. The presentations were well appreciated by the audience in the SRO sessions of the symposium. The sessions were chaired by Dr. Florenda Valera of the University of the Philippines and Dr. Christina Binag of the University of Santo Tomas.
