In addition to project testing for the NHS and commercial clients, SMTL are also involved in Research and Development work. This entails custom designing test methods to enable a new product's properties to be properly evaluated and to enable comparative testing against similar products.
SMTL have developed numerous test methods since the laboratory was established in the 1970's. Many of these test methods have gone on to be published as British Pharmacopoeia monographs, or British and European standards.
The laboratory is heavily involved with various working parties and standards committees in the UK and Internationally to develop and refine new methods of testing a variety of products. Details of the standard committees and working groups SMTL contribute on are provided below:
Standard Committees and Working Groups
SMTL are continuously seeking to develop new methods and update old methods as data becomes available and user requirements change.
Within the laboratory, we have the technical knowledge and experience necessary to develop tests which can be used to assess useful and important characteristics of medical devices. This covers the whole procedure, from the initial R&D phase, through candidate method selection, through to validation.
If you have a device for which there is presently no accepted or standardised test method, please contact SMTL to discuss your requirements smtl.info@wales.nhs.uk