Egypt’s diagnostics brand Al Mokhtabar has launched the Middle East and Africa’s first FLEXLAB-X total lab automation track from Siemens Healthineers at its central Mega Lab facility, enabling the processing of up to 30,000 samples per day.
The new system has reduced the average turnaround time for test results to 32.4 minutes, compared with Al Mokhtabar’s previous target key performance indicator of 120 minutes.
The automated track is designed to scale alongside growing demand for diagnostic services and can handle up to 87,000 tests daily. It covers a testing spectrum that includes clinical chemistry, immunoassays, oncology diagnostics, cardiac biomarkers, thyroid testing, advanced liver tests, multiple sclerosis testing, and infectious diseases.
“The new track gives physicians faster, more dependable answers across multiple specialties,” said Dr. Hend El Sherbini, Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (IDH), the parent company of Al Mokhtabar.
El Sherbini added that the Mega Lab utilizes more than 300 physicians and specialists across disciplines such as hematology, clinical chemistry, immunology, molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, transplantation testing, and food and water analysis. The facility offers over 3,000 tests and parameters, including more than 300 specialized indicators.
The FLEXLAB-X system integrates artificial intelligence to perform remote mechanical performance testing, predict equipment faults before they occur, and run statistical tests on samples to verify result validity.
The post-analytical workflow includes automated refrigerated storage for more than 25,000 samples. The track allows for the automated retrieval and reuse of a sample in less than 30 seconds for additional testing without human intervention or the need for a new patient blood draw.
Ahmed Mazen, Director of Laboratory Solutions at Siemens Healthineers Egypt, said the launch represents a milestone in the development of laboratory diagnostic services in the region, adding that the collaboration reflects a commitment to supporting healthcare providers with automation and innovation solutions to enhance operational efficiency.
The Mega Lab serves as the central operational hub for Al Mokhtabar’s network of more than 460 branches across Egypt, which handles approximately 5m patients annually through its nationwide locations and home visit services. Al Mokhtabar holds a College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation, which it has maintained for 15 consecutive years.
