Sathya Selvarajan, MD, PhD (Biochemistry), is the consultant in clinical biochemistry and quality manager at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, MGM Healthcare, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. She oversees laboratory quality systems and accreditation, driving continuous improvement in diagnostic accuracy and patient safety. Her work emphasizes evidence-based practice and strengthening the role of laboratory medicine in clinical decision-making.
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Abstract 1
Building scalable laboratory systems in high-volume regions: Lessons from an Indian diagnostic entrepreneur
India, now the world’s largest population, presents unique challenges and opportunities for diagnostic laboratories—extreme population density, wide geographic variation in sample sources, rapid growth in test demand, and varied resource availability. This session provides a practical, entrepreneurial roadmap for building and scaling laboratory operations in such environments. Drawing on real leadership experience from managing a NABL-aligned diagnostic laboratory and expanding services across multiple verticals, the talk focuses on strategic decision-making rather than theory.
Key themes include: how to evaluate market needs before launching new tests; when to invest in advanced equipment versus outsource; building a resilient pre-analytical network across urban and semi-urban locations; and how to design operations that remain sustainable during volume fluctuations. The session also covers practical approaches to staff development, policy rollout, vendor selection, and technology upgrades—areas where entrepreneurial thinking directly influences laboratory quality and patient outcomes.
Participants will gain frameworks to manage growth responsibly, strengthen quality systems, and make financially sound decisions while navigating constraints typical in high-population, resource-diverse countries. This presentation is relevant for emerging lab leaders, private sector managers, and professionals seeking to apply entrepreneurial problem-solving to laboratory medicine.
Abstract 2
Strengthening pre-analytical quality in decentralized laboratory networks: A data-driven model for LMIC settings
Pre-analytical errors remain a leading cause of diagnostic inaccuracy worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where laboratories operate across diverse geographic regions, variable infrastructure, and inconsistent sample-collection conditions. This session presents a practical, data-driven framework for improving pre-analytical quality in decentralized laboratory networks. The model is based on real operational experience managing multi-location sample flows, integrating field collection centers, and monitoring integrity risks across varied environments.
The presentation emphasizes practical, entrepreneurial decision-making for laboratories working with limited resources: designing efficient transport routes, selecting reliable logistics partners, implementing cost-effective temperature control measures, and deploying simple digital tools to track issues such as labeling errors, transport delays, and rejection trends. Participants will also learn how to conduct root-cause investigations, build staff accountability systems, and introduce pre-analytical KPIs suited for high-volume or resource-constrained laboratories.
Drawing on findings from a peer-reviewed abstract shortlisted for an ADLM conference, this session will demonstrate how structured data collection and risk scoring can significantly improve sample integrity and support accreditation goals. The framework presented is adaptable for laboratories in Africa, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and other regions facing similar operational challenges.
This session is designed for laboratory supervisors, managers, quality officers, and leaders who aim to strengthen diagnostic accuracy through scalable, low-cost pre-analytical improvements.
Abstract 3
Operational leadership for resource-constrained laboratories: Practical strategies for scaling quality and efficiency
Laboratories in low- and middle-income countries often expand rapidly—new collection centers, higher sample loads, and growing expectations for turnaround time. However, many labs struggle with operational bottlenecks, staffing limitations, inconsistent processes, and constrained budgets. This session provides a practical, operational leadership framework built from the challenges of running diagnostic services in high-volume, diverse environments.
The presentation focuses on how laboratory leaders can improve efficiency and quality without major capital investment. Topics include process mapping, identifying waste, low-cost workflow redesign, optimizing staff utilization, and building a simple but effective KPI dashboard. Entrepreneurial thinking plays a key role—how to prioritize investments, negotiate vendor support, introduce technology incrementally, and guide teams through change.
Participants will learn actionable methods for improving consistency in pre-analytical and analytical processes, reducing error rates, and strengthening internal communication across shifts and sites. The session is ideal for managers, supervisors, and emerging leaders seeking pragmatic, scalable operational strategies suitable for resource-limited settings.