NORTHFIELD, Ill. (August 24, 2023)—The College of American Pathologists (CAP) has released the 2023 edition of the Laboratory Accreditation Program checklists. Infused with best practices, our 21 discipline-specific accreditation checklists provide a clear roadmap for not only achieving accreditation but also for running a high-quality laboratory. Checklists are updated annually to help laboratories stay current with rapidly evolving advances in laboratory medicine, technology, and regulatory compliance.
“For over 75 years, the CAP has worked to achieve the highest standards in laboratory medicine and next year marks the CAP’s 75th year in proficiency testing,” said Richard Scanlan, MD, FCAP, chair, CAP Council on Accreditation, which oversees the accreditation program. “The CAP exclusively focuses on laboratory and biorepository accreditation; therefore, we are a leading expert in the field. Each year we continue to elevate laboratory quality and simplify compliance.”
The CAP is a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)-approved accreditation organization with deeming authority to inspect laboratories under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). The CAP accredits more than 8,000 laboratories worldwide with accredited laboratories in 60 countries. CAP inspection teams are made up of pathologists and other laboratory experts. The inspectors use the checklists as a tool to evaluate laboratory compliance with the CLIA regulations and the CAP standards for accreditation.
“This year, we made a limited number of changes to the checklists,” explained Dr. Scanlan. “The modifications address technological advancements while helping clarify requirements of commonly cited deficiencies and frequently asked questions.”
For more information on the changes, join us for our Focus on Compliance webinar, “2023 CAP Accreditation Checklist Updates: Changes that Matter” on Wednesday, October 18 from 12:00–1:00 PM. Listen to Stephen Sarewitz, MD, FCAP, and Harris Goodman, MD, FCAP, discuss how to use CAP resources to identify changes and ways to implement any necessary changes to ensure compliance with new accreditation requirements.
About the College of American Pathologists
As the world’s largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. For more information, visit the CAP Newsroom, CAP.org and yourpathologist.org to watch pathologists at work and see the stories of the patients who trust them with their care.