Laboratory Accreditation – the basis for confidence

Regulation: The Key Players

The key participants in the quest for high quality laboratory tests have been the Government regulatory bodies that regulate professionals, and the laboratory professional community.

Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA) UK Ltd was formed by the four main UK organizations of laboratory professionals to operate a scheme of voluntary accreditation for laboratories. Laboratories participating in the scheme are inspected every five years and have to renew their registration every year, confirming that they are continuing to operate according to strict guidelines. Although the scheme is voluntary, the majority of UK clinical laboratories are currently accredited by the scheme, and the phrase 'CPA accredited laboratory' is a guarantee that the laboratory has been inspected and approved as a provider of results which meet accepted standards. More details can be found on the CPA website, which lists all currently accredited laboratories.

Professionals working within laboratories - whether doctors or scientists - are registered with statutory bodies which require strict training standards and ensure proper conduct and competence to practice. Doctors working in laboratories, like all doctors, are registered with the General Medical Council and scientists are registered with the Health Professions Council. The registration status of individual professionals can be checked via these websites.

Professional organizations such as the Association for Clinical Biochemistry the Institute of Biomedical Science and the Royal College of Pathologists are also involved in improving medical testing through the development and dissemination of standards, guidelines and best practices.

The Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is another Government body which oversees the quality of medicines and devices used by the NHS. It monitors adverse incidents and works with laboratory staff and industry improve the quality of the service provided to patients.