FHI's Laboratory in Bangkok Blessed by Buddhist Monks

MAY 2007 — FHI's Product Quality and Compliance (PQC) Lab in Bangkok celebrated its opening February 9 with a formal open house and a Buddhist blessing ceremony. The new lab adds muscle to FHI's long-standing mandate of testing male condoms to ensure that they meet all international standards to prevent the transmission of HIV and other diseases.

The new lab has been in development since 2005. The Thai Ministry of Public Health awarded its ISO (International Organization for Standardization) accreditation in January 2007—the same accreditation held by the FHI lab in North Carolina. The Bangkok lab will provide services that international donors urgently require, since all condom shipments must be evaluated and certified by accredited laboratories before they are distributed.

Extending the Range of FHI Labs
Director, Eli Carter of FHI's PQC Division said, "We consider Bangkok an extension of FHI's North Carolina testing program, and its management will be coordinated through our office at headquarters. FHI's Asia Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok is just a few blocks away, and it will provide administrative support for the lab.  The Regional Office staff was enormously helpful in getting the lab up and running, and will continue to support us as we expand our services."

The new laboratory occupies about 680 square meters and has a highly trained staff of five. It is the only independent accredited condom-testing lab in Thailand, and has much potential in both donor and commercial sectors. Carter said that the hope is to add five more staff by year-end, along with testing of other types of contraceptives and medical gloves.

But for now, the testing of male condoms should keep the technicians in Bangkok busy. The demand for condom testing is growing, and the operation can be done at less cost in Bangkok than in North Carolina. In addition, about 75 percent of the major condom factories in the world are in Asia—in Thailand, India, Malaysia, China, and Korea. Condoms made in these locations will be tested in Bangkok, while those made in the United States and elsewhere will continue to be tested in North Carolina.

Comprehensive Testing Services
Whether in Bangkok or North Carolina, FHI's rigorous testing covers every specification and performance requirement. The labs also carry out compatibility studies to determine the effects of various lubricants and other medical treatments on condom integrity and performance. All these tasks require proven experience and specialized proficiencies. FHI technicians use stringent international standards as they test condoms for efficacy, quality, safety, stability, and acceptability to global performance requirements. This is crucial because substandard condoms and other prevention products put lives at risk for disease transmission and unintended pregnancies.

In 2006, FHI's PQC Division ensured the quality of over 600 million condoms shipped to developing countries and provided technical assistance to many country programs and governments. Its staff is involved in standards development worldwide, and collaborates with international donors and manufacturers to improve the quality and reliability of products that prevent or treat HIV and other sexually transmitted infections and infectious diseases.

From purchasing through product distribution, PQC guides organizations, manufacturers, and governments through compliance with international standards relating to male and female condoms, oral contraceptives, injectables, IUDs, and microbicides. Additionally, PQC officials assist decision-makers with the development of procurement specifications, prequalification of suppliers, technical staffing requirements, product storage and shelf life, complaint resolution, and regulatory issues.

PQC engages in advanced testing for the US Agency for International Development, the United Nations Population Fund, and Population Services International, and actively participates in international standards organizations—most notably, the ISO.

Blessing the New Facility
It is a tradition in Thailand to invite Buddhist monks to bless a new house or building, and doing this right requires nine monks to ensure success. That is why nine were involved in the two-hour blessing ceremony on 9th floor of the Panjabhum Building February 9. The three 9s are "triple luck," said Carter, who assisted with the ceremonial meal, various blessings, and carrying the water container for the head monk, who sprinkled water over all areas of the facility and marked each doorway.

FHI's Asia/Pacific Regional Office Senior Director Jeanine Bardon and Carter addressed invited guests, many of whom represented local manufacturers of condoms and rubber gloves and suppliers of lab equipment.

PHOTOS: (top) A lab technician tests condoms to be sure they are free from holes;  (bottom) In a traditional ceremony, the senior monk blesses FHI's new PQC facilities as Eli Carter holds the water vessel.