Science Minister Visits Test Labs in Peterborough

Science Minister’s Visit

Our Peterborough-based medical device testing laboratory welcomed UK Science Minister Lord Vallance on the 12th of February.

During the visit, Lord Vallance toured the company’s specialist facilities, with demonstrations focused on biocompatibility testing, reprocessing validation, material compatibility, and microbiology testing.

The Science Minister met members of the laboratory team including Study Manager Chris Sibanda and Laboratory Scientists Riwia Chetian and Joseph Kasirivu, gaining first-hand insight into the scientific rigour behind medical device validation.

The visit comes as the UK Government places medical technology at the centre of its ambition to build Europe’s leading life sciences economy by 2030.

Lord Vallance said: “This Government has put MedTech at the heart of its ambition to make the UK Europe’s leading life sciences economy by 2030, strengthening our global position and improving patient care and diagnosis across the NHS.”

Design for Life

A key focus of the discussion was sustainability, research and development, and the implications of the recently launched Design for Life strategy for the NHS and global healthcare systems.

Enrico Allegra highlighted how independent testing laboratories play a critical role in bridging innovation and patient safety.

Enrico Allegra said: “Hosting Lord Vallance was a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate how our facility is turning the Design for Life roadmap into a reality. We were delighted to show how our independent testing and R&D capabilities serve as a bridge between sustainable innovation and clinical safety. The Minister’s visit highlights the critical role that specialised facilities like ours play in ensuring the NHS can meet its Net Zero targets without compromising on patient care.”

In 2020, the NHS became the world’s first health system to commit to reaching Net Zero. Medical device testing and validation play a significant part in supporting that ambition.

Through services including:

• Reprocessing validation of reusable medical devices
• Biocompatibility testing
• Microbiology and cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation validation
• Material compatibility

Test Labs supports manufacturers in developing safer, longer-lasting and lower environmental impact medical devices. Robust validation helps reduce avoidable waste, prevent unnecessary product recalls, extend device life cycles and support the safe adoption of reusable technologies, all contributing to reduced environmental impact across the NHS supply chain.

Scientific Integrity at the Core of Medical Device Testing

During the laboratory tour, Lord Vallance asked whether the team experiences pressure from manufacturers to achieve particular outcomes.

Chris Sibanda responded honestly: “Yes, every day.” He continued: “Notified Body backlogs, incomplete‑file questions, the EUDAMED roll‑out and evolving standards eat time manufacturers don’t have. We turn that pressure into upfront advice and risk‑based, consultative testing end‑to‑end. We move fast without cutting corners and get it done with certainty. We try to slow down and listen, give free practical guidance, and test with a risk‑based approach across the study/clinical evaluation. We won’t bend to pressure or dress up weak evidence, if it can’t withstand scrutiny, we work with the manufacturer and notified body until the job is done. When you sign your name on a report, you take responsibility. Not just for the data, but for the potential impact on patient safety and on families. Integrity is non-negotiable.”

Connecting Science, Policy and Global Industry

The visit concluded with an online meeting with Managing Director Tautvydas Karitonas, joining from WHX Dubai, and Senior Study Manager and Toxicologist Sophie Bell.

Tautvydas Karitonas said: “I’m incredibly proud of the team for the work they do every day and for the opportunity to show Lord Vallance what happens inside our laboratory in Peterborough.

Trust in medical technology is built on evidence. 

From the beginning, we have built Test Labs deliberately in alignment with the UK’s wider medical technology strategy, and more recently the DHSC Design for Life roadmap. What we see very clearly is that the work being done here locally resonates globally.

Medical device manufacturers are increasingly focused not only on performance and safety, but also on sustainability and supply-chain resilience. Our role is to provide the scientific certainty that allows those innovations to move forward with confidence.

The UK has a real opportunity to lead in MedTech, and facilities like ours exist to support that ambition by connecting world-class science, responsible innovation and the global manufacturers working to bring the next generation of medical technologies to patients.”

Lord Vallance concluded: “Facilities like Test Labs in Peterborough show how rigorous testing and validation can turn promising ideas into safe, effective products that patients and clinicians can trust. That work is vital in delivering an NHS which is fit for the future, and new opportunities for researchers and businesses alike to continue backing our expert life sciences sector.”

For our team, the visit was a recognition that behind every validated device, every reprocessing protocol, and every material assessment, there is a shared goal: safer patients, stronger science and a healthcare system ready for the future.