Archived: Biolab

Updated 21 March 2022

Biolab is operated by Biolab Limited and is based in Marylebone, London. Biolab is a laboratory providing blood sample collection (phlebotomy) and other sample analysis. They test for nutritional and environmental elements such as vitamin and mineral levels, toxic metals and other biochemical levels. It is a private outpatient service and does not provide services to NHS-funded patients.

The service is registered to provide the following regulated activity:

• Diagnostic and screening procedures.

The service had a registered manager, laboratory manager, three laboratory technicians, three phlebotomists and four administrative staff.

Updated 21 March 2022

We did not rate this service. We found:

• Staff had not undertaken mandatory training including safeguarding training.
• Infection prevention and control audits, such as hand hygiene and the environment, had not been undertaken. Staff did not dispose of clinical and hazardous waste safely.
• Equipment had not been serviced and maintained in line with the manufacturer’s instructions. The laboratory did not have suitable facilities and it was not well maintained.
• Policies did not refer to the most up-to-date professional guidance and the versions used. Policies were not regularly reviewed in line with current guidance.
• The service did not have an effective leadership structure, including managers with the right skills and abilities to provide high-quality sustainable care. Leaders did not understand the challenges of maintaining and improving quality.
• The service did not have an effective system to improve service quality and safeguard high standards of care. The service did not have effective systems to identify and mitigate risks. The service held no staff meetings and there was no evidence of staff involvement in running the service.

However:

• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness and respected their privacy and dignity.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of people who use the service.
• People could access the service when they needed.

We took enforcement action to urgently suspend the registration of Biolab Limited, who are now no longer legally allowed to carry out regulated activities at their services at Biolab, until 6 May 2022 and only after we have assessed them as fit do so.

Updated 21 March 2022

We did not rate this service. See the summary above for what we found.