The Mumbai based leading diagnostic chain, Metropolis, is expanding its international operations into the US and Thailand markets. The company is investing Rs 5 crore in a joint venture in the US and Rs 10 crore for an acquisition in Thailand. Metropolis is expected to start it's business operations in these countries by mid of November 2007.

In India, the company has plans to set up five more new centres across the country. Metropolis currently provides various services to its customers such as clinical laboratory medicine, radiology and imaging services, hospital laboratory management, central laboratory services for clinical trials, site management services, home health services, preventive health check ups and remote pathology testing services.

Metropolis has received accreditation from ISO, NABL, CAP (college of American pathologists) and registration for CLIA, USA reiterate that meet stringent national and international quality requirements - imperative in a vital service sector like healthcare.

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation is a formal recognition of the technical competence of a testing or calibration laboratory for a specific task, which is based on third party assessment. NABL accredited laboratories emerge as a member of global family of accredited laboratories. Its six labs have received NABL accreditation and three more are expected to get soon.

Speaking to Pharmabiz, Ameera Patel, executive director, said, "We are on continuous expansion mode and are entering the US market through joint venture with the initial investment of Rs 5 crore. Simultaneously, in the Thailand market, we are going for an acquisition with a majority stake. Our both deals are progressing well and should be completed by the mid of November 2007. In the month of October we have commenced our South Asian operation. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with European company for the advanced radiology service".

The company is engaged in various activities like pathology testing services, preventive health care, clinical trials, public-private partnerships, hospital laboratory management and home health services. "We are investing close to Rs 10 crore for setting up our own lab at Johannesburg by the mid of 2008", Patel added.