ArticleIJID regions2026
Microbiology laboratory consolidation at the National Reference Laboratory, United Arab Emirates: implementation, early outcomes, and lessons learned from a hub-and-spoke network redesign.
Article in IJID regions, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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8 authors.
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Abstract
Objectives: This case study examines the planning, design, and initial post-implementation outcomes of a phased microbiology laboratory consolidation project within the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) network. The project sought to enhance operational efficiency; minimize inter-site variability; safeguard urgent diagnostic pathways; expand access to advanced microbiology resources; and eliminate unnecessary duplication of space, instrumentation, quality activities, and labor. Methods: The consolidation used a selective hub-and-spoke model, designating NRL Industrial City of Abu Dhabi as the reference center for routine, non-time-critical assays, whereas peripheral sites retained urgent and stability-dependent testing. The network comprises a central reference laboratory and two peripheral laboratories that serve our clients within the United Arab Emirates. The project encompassed service mapping, hub selection, workflow testing, risk assessment, laboratory information system validation, transport and readiness planning, phased implementation, and structured post-implementation refinement. Baseline workload and collection timing data informed staffing, courier scheduling, and the extent of centralization. Results: Urgent diagnostic pathways were maintained at existing testing sites, and standardization and governance were enhanced at all locations. Turnaround times improved across several routine culture workflows: the aggregate bacterial culture category decreased by 35.3% ( Conclusion: Phased, selective hub-and-spoke consolidation enables the centralization of routine microbiology while preserving time-critical diagnostics. Contingent upon reliable transport, it protects urgent workflows, harmonizes standard operating procedures, validates laboratory information system routing, enables active stakeholder communication, and sustains governance from the outset.
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