American Pathologists Laboratory Accreditation

The lab submits an application request form with a deposit. 

The team conducts a thorough inspection using checklists as guides. 

The team meets with the lab for a summation conference to review findings. 

The inspectors leave a copy of the final Summation Report. 

The lab is accredited for a two-year cycle, but conducts a self-inspection at the one-year matk. 

---

College of American Pathologists Laboratory Accreditation Program (1997) Standards for Laboratory Accreditation, Commission on Laboratory Accreditation Inspection Checklist, Sections 1 and 8. 

Commission on Laboratory Inspection and Accreditation. Reagent water Specifications. Skokie, IL College of American Pathologists, 1985. 

General LIS applications, outside blood collection or transfusion services, are not subject to FDA regulations, but many laboratories voluntarily subject their LIS to inspection and accreditation. The College of American Pathologists... 

CAP Standards for Accreditation of Medical Laboratories. Skokie, IL CoHege of American Pathologists (www.cap.org). 

College of American Pathologists. Checklist for Molecular Pathology Inspections, http //www.cap.org/ apps/docs/laboratory accreditation/cheddists/ molecular pathology december2003.pdf (accessed July 20, 2004). 

Sarewitz S, ed. Molecular Pathology Checklist, CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program. College of American Pathologists, Northfield, 111. 2003 19-21. 

Proficiency testing for CRTU analysis (which should be performed with CDU and B2MU analyses to evaluate the results properly) also is recommended. In the U.S., only the College of American Pathologists (CAP) currently conducts CRTU proficiency testing participating laboratories should be accredited for CRTU analysis by the CAP. 

---