The Dubai Central Laboratory, affiliated with the Dubai Municipality, has announced the addition of a new technology that operates with artificial intelligence and is used for the first time in the region to automatically detect Legionella pneumonia bacteria, which is one of the bacteria that causes many acute respiratory diseases.
This new technology is distinguished by its high accuracy in detecting live bacteria of this type with the ability to display results at specific concentrations in the studied sample comprehensively.
This technology allows for precise detection of bacteria with an accuracy rate of 99%, which is a significant achievement in the field of diagnostics.
This technology also stands out for its sustainability, as it reduces the amount of lab materials consumed, which enhances the speed of conducting tests and saves time.
Engineer Hind Mahmoud Ahmed, Director of the Dubai Central Laboratory, confirmed that the Dubai Municipality is working on developing its digital infrastructure for its laboratories, equipping them with the latest advanced systems and technologies to enhance the efficiency of the health and safety system in the Emirate of Dubai. The municipality is also aiming to achieve its goals in developing and applying globally recognized standards for laboratory testing and calibration certificates to enhance healthcare and preventive health care in the community and improve the quality of life in the Emirate.
She stated that “the new technology for detecting Legionella pneumonia bacteria is the latest globally and internationally accredited by the European Water Testing Network and holds recognition from the Official Analytical Chemists Association. This technology is characterized by its high accuracy and speed in delivering results in less than 48 hours, while traditional methods took 14 days to obtain results”.
Engineer Hind pointed out that microbiological analysis laboratories conduct more than 100,000 tests annually on various types of food materials, environmental water, and consumer products to ensure their compliance with technical specifications in accordance with international standard requirements (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) to ensure the safety of all products available in Dubai markets. In addition, developmental studies and research are carried out for various microbiological tests to enhance the laboratory’s preparedness and readiness to deal with emergency cases quickly.
The new technology enhances the structure of microbiological tests carried out to verify the absence of microbial growth causing spoilage or disease transmitted through goods and various products to maintain the health and safety of consumers.
The laboratory tests conducted by the laboratory rely on an integrated technological system consisting of approximately 5000 technologies and devices that operate according to the best global standards. The laboratory provides testing, calibration, technical consultations, and specialized training services benefiting a large number of vital sectors, such as the food, health, industry, and environmental sectors, as well as several governmental and academic entities.
It should be noted that the Dubai Central Laboratory system consists of several specialized labs including the chemical analysis lab, microbiological analysis lab, infrastructure materials lab, construction lab, metrology lab, and electromechanical devices lab.
