What you need to know
The HOPE Tower Laboratory at Jersey Shore University Medical Center recently received its initial accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) based on the results of a comprehensive review of records and on-site inspection.
To achieve this accreditation, the Lab Team prepared, complied, and presented evidence for over 1,500 requirements; personnel competencies, testing, quality assurance, quality control, and safety.
CAP laboratory accreditation helps laboratories:
- Maintain accuracy of test results and ensure accurate patient diagnosis
- Meet required standards from CLIA, FDA and OSHA. CAP requirements commonly exceed the standards, bolstering patient care and safety.
- Manage rapidly evolving changes in laboratory medicine and technology
- Exchange ideas and best practices among pathology and laboratory medicine peers
- Offer professional development and learning opportunities for laboratory staff
Details on CAP
CAP is the world’s largest association composed exclusively of pathologists and is widely considered the leader in laboratory quality assurance. Inspectors examine the records and quality control of the laboratory for the preceding two years, as well as the education and qualifications of the total staff, the adequacy of facilities, equipment, safety and management to determine how well the laboratory is serving patients. The CAP laboratory accreditation program, launched in the 1960s, is recognized by the federal government as being equal or more stringent than the government’s own inspection program.