Randox Wins Five Year Deal to Supply Quality Control Products to Northern Ireland Hospital Trusts

Leading diagnostics company Randox has fought off global competition to win a five year contract to supply quality control products to the Northern Ireland Health & Social Care Trusts.

The contract will see the County Antrim firm supply quality control products to all ten hospitals within the NI Trusts. The new business is worth potentially £1.2m over the life of the contract.

The deal means that routine patient blood tests carried out in any NHS hospital or clinic in Northern Ireland will be quality assured by Randox products developed and manufactured in Crumlin.

A high percentage of medical appointments in Northern Ireland result in patient blood samples being taken before being tested in laboratories. Diagnosis of an illness or medical condition, and the subsequent treatment prescribed, will be given by a doctor based on the results of these blood tests.

Robust Quality Control is the bedrock of patient blood testing as it helps laboratories ensure accuracy in their testing procedures. If errors occur during testing this can result in misdiagnosis and delayed treatment, which can ultimately be life threatening for the patient.

Randox is one of the largest manufacturers of laboratory quality control products in the world. The products, all manufactured in Country Antrim, are widely considered to be the most accurate quality controls available globally. As part of the deal Randox has developed a range of customized quality controls specifically to match the clinical requirements of the NI Hospital Trusts.

Health Minister Edwin Poots, who visited Randox today as part of the announcement, said,

“Northern Ireland’s biotechnology sector is world-class and a growing contributor to the local economy. I am delighted that patients in Northern Ireland will now benefit from quality assured diagnostic products developed and manufactured in Crumlin.

“Today's announcement is a further example of the positive mutual benefits to health and the economy that can result from partnership working between Government and the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industry. I am keen to continue this work to ensure that we can continue to grow our pharmaceutical and biotechnology capacity in Northern Ireland.”

Steven Jordan Global Manager, Randox Quality Control lauded the positive contribution the company is making in improving the health of Northern Ireland’s population and, ultimately, saving lives.

“Randox’s reputation as a leader in diagnostics is recognized across the world. We are a ground-breaking biotechnology company, committed to revolutionizing healthcare and diagnostics at a global level. We are delighted that the people of Northern Ireland will now be able to benefit from this level of global expertise, ensuring more accurate and reliable diagnosis, and improving the health outlook for all.”