Accreditation bodies defined

Most situations where proficiency evaluation is applied are rather narrowly defined as to scope. For example, clinical laboratories may be asked to demonstrate that they can determine certain constituents occurring in human serum with uncertainties not to exceed specific limits. Accrediting bodies will require successful participation in periodic proficiency tests conducted by a reference laboratory which they recognize. 

Chrysler requires that its suppliers be certified to the automobile industry s quality standard, called QS-9000. That standard, generated by a team of auto OEMs, accreditation bodies, and suppliers, defines internal quality processes that suppliers must use. An independent registrar must certify compliance with these processes. They cover continuous improvement, defect prevention, and reduction in variation. QS-9000 provides a foundation of basic requirements for any supplier wanting to serve any of the major automobile companies. 

Over several decades, ASHP has worked with members to develop Best Practices for Health-System Pharmacy, a compilation of statements, guidelines, therapeutic position statements, and residency accreditation standards. In addition to its ongoing creation of practice standards, the Office of Professional Practice and Scientific Affairs at ASHP monitors professional practice needs, works with other major health organizations, works toward the prevention of medication misadventures, and communicates with federal and state regulatory bodies that define pharmacy practice in hospitals and other components of health systems. 

ISO/IEC 17025 1999 Accreditation is the formal recognition of the competence of a body or an organization for a well-defined purpose. In contrast with the ISO 9001 processes, accreditation of a laboratory to ISO/IEC 17025 involves assessment of the technical competence and capability of the laboratory and its personnel. In practice, it is the procedure by which a laboratory is assessed to perform a specific range of tests or calibration measurements. Specific areas examined include infrastructure and staff qualifications, in addition to checks that an adequate quality management scheme is in place. The accreditation covers the range of materials tested or analyzed, the tests carried out, the method and equipment used, and the accuracy or precision expected, and is specific to the facility and the test. 

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