Laboratory Services

The main function of the Blood Donation Centre (BDC) is to provide adequate supply of safe and quality blood and blood components  by  conducting  mobile blood  donation  drives,  and by  providing  walk-in  blood  donation  services,  through   recruitment   and  retention  of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors.

BDC also provides   plateletpheresis, venesection on polycythaemia rubra vera (PRV) patients and do follow-up and consultation for donors who have been tested positive for certain infectious diseases.

Blood Donor Screening Laboratory (BDSL) of BDC performs  screening  of  infectious diseases (Human Immunodeficiency Virus – HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis) and determination of ABO blood group, Rh blood type and red cell antibodies  as well as antigen typing on donated blood with the  aim to  ensure  the safest  blood is transfused to the recipients.

In 2023, BDSL of  BDC achieved another milestone by embarking on a new infectious screening test; a qualitative in vitro Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) for the direct detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Type 1 and Type 2 RNA, Hepatitis C RNA, and Hepatitis B Virus DNA in human plasma and serum that substantially close the window period and further enhance and strengthen the patient safety in blood and blood products transfusion in Brunei Darussalam.

Component Processing Laboratory (CPL) of BDC processes, labels, stores and distributes the donated blood and components including Packed Red Cells (PC), Leucocyte Depleted Packed Cell (LDPC), Fresh  Frozen  Plasma (FFP),  Random Platelet (RDPLT) and  Cryoprecipitate (CRYO). 

Quality Control Laboratory (QCL) of BDC performs quality tests on donated blood and components to ensure production of high quality products, meeting the minimum standard requirements outlined by American Association of Blood Banking (AABB) and Council of Europe (CE). 

National Blood Transfusion Reference Laboratory (NBTRL) of BDC operates  24 hrs (24/7) throughout the year. It performs pre-transfusion tests which may include Blood Grouping, Antibody Screening, Antibody Identification, Direct Coombs Test, Red cell Phenotyping, and Compatibility testing or Crossmatching. It also performs Antibody Titre, Cold Agglutinins test, Cryoglobulin test and Transfusion Reaction Investigation. It issues blood and blood components such as platelets, fresh frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate.

The National Clinical Chemistry Reference Laboratory provides a wide range of biochemicaltests, analysing electrolytes, enzymes, hormones and proteins in the blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid.

State-of-the-art instrumentation and stringent quality control measures enable quality-assured results reported in a timely manner.

General and Immuno-Chemistry unit offers tests on general chemistry such as electrolytes, cardiac enzymes, liver function, lipids and glucose monitoring. Automated immunoassay analyzers enable accurate testing of hormones and tumour markers.

Special Chemistry unit concentrates on glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measurement, neonatal screening, phaeochromocytoma screening, renal calculi analysis, specialized protein testing and therapeutic drugs monitoring.

The laboratory operates 24 hours daily for common chemistry tests. Low volume tests and more specialized tests are performed during office hours.

The main role of the National Clinical Microbiology Reference Laboratory is to identify the aetiologic agents of diseases caused by bacteria, fungi and parasites from a variety of clinical samples and provides antimicrobial susceptibility test results for clinically significant isolates to the clinicians. Our laboratory offers services in the following disciplines of Clinical Microbiology; Bacteriology (aerobic and anaerobic), Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, Mycology, Infection Control Screening and Serology. We also perform other tests which include Urinalysis and Stool microscopic examination, Cell count of body fluids, Urine pregnancy, Stool occult blood and Microfilaria parasite microscopy tests.

The National Clinical Microbiology Reference Laboratory works closely with Hospital Infection Control Unit in activities related to bacterial and fungal infections in all hospitals in Negara Brunei Darussalam. Our laboratory is also extensively committed to provide support for Antimicrobial Resistance

Surveillance following Brunei Darussalam AMR National Action Plan and providing AMR data to WHO GLASS platform.

The National Haematology Reference Laboratory provides routine and specialized clinical haematological tests and interpretation of results. It has 6 sections under it including Automation section, Coagulation and Coagulation plus section, Bone Marrow Section, Morphology Section, Special Haematology and Malaria Section. Consultant haematologist worked closely with NHRL which provides interpretations of haematological results. The laboratory operates 24-hour daily.

The National Histology and Cytology Reference Laboratory & Mortuary Services encompasses Histology, Cytology and Andrology laboratories, and Mortuary services. The Histology and Cytology laboratories offer diagnostic services on diseases while the Andrology laboratory offers investigation on the male factor infertility. Our Mortuary services offers cadaveric storage, autopsy and embalming services.

The National Immunology Reference Laboratory Services specializes in conducting tests related to  autoimmunity and allergies. Utilizing methodologies such as ELISA, Indirect Immunofluorescence, fluoro-enzyme-immunoassay, and Lineblot assay, we focus on detecting autoimmune diseases and  allergies to aid in diagnosis, monitoring, and therapeutic management. Continuous improvement is  ensured through client feedback and regular communication. The laboratory operates Monday to  Thursday and Saturday from 7.45am – 12.15pm & from 1.30pm – 4.30pm.

The National Mycobacteria Reference Laboratory (NMRL) provides laboratory diagnosis for tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases for all hospitals and health clinics in Brunei Darussalam. As a reference laboratory, NMRL collaborates with healthcare providers and the National TB Coordinating Centre for the effective surveillance, prevention and control of tuberculosis throughout the country.

Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB) Microscopy 

✓ Detection of fluorochrome and acid-fast bacilli (AFB) from clinical specimens and cultures.  

Mycobacteria Culture 

✓ Isolation of mycobacteria by utilising an automated liquid-based system  (MGIT 960) and solid medium (Lowenstein Jensen’s). 

Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) 

✓ Providing first-line drug profile for the treatment of M. tuberculosis complex infection. 

Molecular Assay 

✓ Identification and differentiation of M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and detection of mutated genes associated with Isoniazid and Rifampicin resistance. 

✓ Identification and differentiation of 30 non-tuberculous mycobacteria species (NTM). 

The National Virology Reference Laboratory provides diagnostic services for the detection and monitoring of viral illnesses and also for monitoring the effectiveness of viral vaccines.

The laboratory also acts as a referral laboratory for Disease Control Division, Panaga Hospital and  Jerudong Park Medical Centre for viral confirmatory testing.  

The laboratory has been designated as one of the WHO Measles and Rubella Network Laboratory in the Western Pacific Region and has also been recognised as a WHO-accredited National Measles and Rubella Laboratory since 2014. 

Phlebotomy Services provide blood collection for patients and public (medical fitness). This service is available at all four district hospitals. There are other Phlebotomy Services in Health Centres and  Foreign Workers’ Health Screening Centre under Department of Community Health and Department of Public Health respectively. Generally, patients are encouraged to go to their catchment area for blood draw except for special tests that need to be taken in RIPAS Hospital as instructed by the doctor. Examples are sent abroad tests and STAT tests.

Central Specimens Receiving Area (CSRA) is the centre for receiving specimens from RIPAS Hospital,  referral specimens from district hospitals and other Government Health Centres including MRS. Services provided include receiving and registration of specimens, distribution of specimens to the respective laboratories within RIPAS Hospital and outside RIPAS Hospital, handling 24-hour urine and preparing lab bills for paying patients. Specimens for Histology and Cytology Laboratories Services are to be sent directly to the respective laboratories. 

Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) Section provides technical and quality management support to any government’s healthcare services in Brunei Darussalam that perform point-of-care tests such as blood glucose and ketone using glucometer, urinalysis using dipstick, qualitative pregnancy tests, blood gases, INR, rapid urease test. 

The support includes but is not limited to the following:  

1. Overseeing the implementation of POCT quality assurance program at the POCT sites and ensuring the operation complies to the ISO15189, ISO22870 and Joint Commission International requirements.  
2. Ensuring continuous supply of POCT reagent and consumables.  
3. Providing introductory POCT training and organising user training by POCT-approved vendor  4. Developing the POCT operator competency program and coordinating with the healthcare  POCT site on the management of competency assessment.