About Us

The Surgical Materials Testing Laboratory (SMTL) is part of the Welsh NHS, funded by the Welsh Government and is part of NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP). Our core service is to provide medical device testing and technical services regarding medical devices to the Welsh NHS, enabling Procurement Services and others in the NHS to undertake evidence-based purchasing. Please see our NHS Wales Services pages for the range of services we offer to NHS colleagues.

To meet financial commitments, SMTL also provides commercial testing and technical assurance services to UK Health Services and the international medical device industry.

With over 50 years’ experience, SMTL have an international reputation for delivering independent scientific and technical services to the NHS and medical device industry. Our laboratories at Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend and Imperial Park, Newport offer independent testing facilities covering a wide range of physical, biological and environmental testing services across the medical device sector.

We implement a rigorous UKAS accredited quality system to ISO 17025, which ensures your test reports are accurate and reliable. We offer a range of accredited testing services covering national and international standards, as well as numerous in-house developed test methods.

Our commercial client list is varied and include start-up companies, SMEs, multinationals, government agencies such as Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), NHS Supply Chain, NHS Trusts, Police Forces, Coroners Courts and Legal Representatives.

Please see the Services pages for details of the range of tests our laboratory provides.