UK COUNTRY FOCUS MEDICAL LABORATORY ACCREDITATION? By: UK Accreditation Services (UKAS) Image © UKAS WHY DO WE NEED
MEDICAL LABORATORY ACCREDITATION IN THE UK Accreditation in healthcare is increasingly growing in its importance as service providers strive to improve the quality of patient care and as patients become more informed. Accreditation is a significant enabler of quality, thereby delivering confidence to healthcare commissioners, clinicians, the service providers and the patients themselves. In the report by Lord Carter of Coles, Review of National Health Service (NHS) Pathology Services in England 2006, he stated: “Accreditation is absolutely essential to ensure quality of supply”. The report focused on three main themes: improving quality and patient safety; improving efficiency; identifying the mechanisms for delivering change. The review estimated that significant savings could be made by the NHS through consolidating pathology services, and made specific recommendations for change. The report insisted that pathology service providers in England become accredited by Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA), a wholly owned subsidiary of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). UKAS, the sole UK government recognised accreditation body, through CPA has a proven track record of delivering pathology accreditation services to over 1,250 medical laboratories including those in the UK and Middle East. Over the past 20 years since CPA’s inauguration, demand for pathology accreditation has grown ensuring the accuracy, safety and quality of accredited service providers. UKAS through its international recognition provides medical laboratory accreditation to ISO 15189.
THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED STANDARD - ISO 15189 The global standard specifically created for medical laboratories is ISO 15159. This standard helps medical laboratories develop their quality management systems and assess both technical and managerial competence. The assessment of technical competence is not just restricted to staff, but also includes: the testing environment; handling and sampling systems; as well as validity and appropriateness of test
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methods. Furthermore, management competence comprises of internal audits of quality management systems and methods of controlling documents and records. Additionally, management competence includes the qualifying of external services and suppliers and most importantly patient-feedback that’s used directly to help develop the quality of services delivered to patients.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN SELECTING AN ACCREDITATION PROVIDER It is essential that medical laboratories seeking accreditation that’s credible insist upon using an internationally recognised accreditation body. UKAS’ international recognition is through its signatory status with the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). ILAC is the peak international authority on laboratory accreditation. Through a series of Multilateral Mutual Recognition Agreements with ILAC, UKAS is able to accredit labse globally to ISO 15189, thus ensuring accepted test results in over 80 economies. This ‘tested once, accepted everywhere’ approach presents an excellent opportunity for labs to develop new business, and eliminates the need for costly and time-consuming re-evaluation of each country. Another consideration for medical laboratories seeking accreditation is
the use of External Quality Assurance (EQA) proficiency testing schemes. Accreditation requires all labs to participate in such EQA schemes. However, selecting an accreditation provider that stipulates the use of their own schemes may not suit the needs of the laboratory and can be costly. The use of an internationally recognised accreditation body such as UKAS recognises all major reputable EQA schemes that suit the lab’s needs. Ultimately, accredited medical laboratories establish and maintain confidence in their services. UK
MORE INFO To find out more about internationally recognised accreditation visit:
www.ukas.com or email:
communications@ukas.com
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