Al Mokhtabar launches Siemens Healthineers automation system at Egypt’s Mega Lab

EGYPT—Al Mokhtabar, Egypt’s leading diagnostics provider, has expanded its laboratory capabilities with the launch of the FLEXLAB™-X Total Lab Automation system from Siemens Healthineers at its Mega Lab.

The company said the system is the first of its kind to be deployed in the Middle East and Africa.

The launch marks the second phase of Al Mokhtabar’s technology and innovation strategy as the laboratory seeks to accelerate sample processing, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen diagnostic services through advanced automation.

The Mega Lab serves as the operational hub of Al Mokhtabar’s nationwide network, which comprises more than 460 branches and provides services to approximately five million patients annually through laboratory facilities and home visits.

The laboratory is also the only one in Egypt to hold accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP), which it has maintained for 15 consecutive years.

The new FLEXLAB™-X automation track can process up to 30,000 samples and 87,000 tests daily, with the flexibility to expand as demand for diagnostic services increases.

According to Al Mokhtabar, the system has achieved an average turnaround time of 32.4 minutes, significantly below the laboratory’s target key performance indicator of 120 minutes.

Automated sample storage and retrieval

In addition to increasing testing capacity, the system automates post-analytical processes by providing refrigerated storage for more than 25,000 samples.

It can also automatically retrieve and reuse a stored sample for additional testing in less than 30 seconds, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing the need for patients to provide new blood samples.

The automation track supports routine and specialised testing across clinical chemistry, immunoassays, oncology, cardiac biomarkers, thyroid disorders, advanced liver testing, multiple sclerosis, and infectious diseases.

This enables the Mega Lab to manage high testing volumes while maintaining consistent quality and operational control.

The system also incorporates artificial intelligence-enabled tools to remotely monitor equipment performance and identify potential faults before they occur.

In addition, statistical testing of patient samples helps verify the validity of results and improve diagnostic reliability.

Siemens Healthineers partnership

Commenting on the launch, Dr Hend El Sherbini, chief executive officer of Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (IDH), the parent company of Al Mokhtabar, said the new system would provide physicians with faster and more reliable diagnostic information across multiple medical specialties.

She added that the Mega Lab brings together more than 300 physicians and specialists covering hematology, clinical chemistry, immunology, molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, transplantation testing, and food and water analysis.

The facility offers more than 3,000 tests and parameters, including over 300 specialised indicators, alongside capabilities in metabolic disorders, heavy metals, and molecular diagnostics.

Ahmed Mazen, director of Laboratory Solutions at Siemens Healthineers Egypt, said the company was proud to partner with Al Mokhtabar on the launch of the first FLEXLAB™-X Total Lab Automation system in the Middle East and Africa.

He added that the collaboration demonstrates Siemens Healthineers’ commitment to supporting healthcare providers with advanced automation technologies that improve laboratory efficiency, accelerate results, and enhance the reliability of diagnostic services.