Standards for laboratory accreditation

Area of Science:

• Medical Laboratory Science
• Clinical Pathology
• Laboratory Accreditation

Background:

• The College of American Pathologists (CAP) previously revised its Standards for Accreditation of Medical Laboratories in 1974.
• Ongoing advancements in laboratory medicine necessitate regular updates to accreditation standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the final revised Standards for Accreditation of Medical Laboratories.
• To inform members of the finalized accreditation policies adopted by the CAP Board of Governors.

Main Methods:

• Extensive review by CAP resource committees and councils.
• Solicitation of comments from the entire CAP membership via the 'Pathologist '82' publication.
• Formal adoption of standards as CAP policy by the Board of Governors.

Main Results:

• A revised set of Standards for Accreditation of Medical Laboratories has been developed and finalized.
• The updated standards were approved by the House of Delegates.
• The final standards were adopted as CAP policy.

Conclusions:

• The finalized Standards for Accreditation of Medical Laboratories reflect the latest requirements for quality in medical laboratory services.
• These updated standards are crucial for ensuring consistent and high-quality laboratory performance nationwide.