The Clinical Laboratory at the Barquist Army Health Clinic passed its College of American Pathologists on-site inspection, Aug. 20, with zero deficiencies.
CAP is the world’s largest association composed exclusively of pathologists certified by the American Board of Pathology and is widely considered the leader in laboratory quality assurance, according to Maj. Thomas A. Summers, BAHC’s Clinical Laboratory Director. The CAP’s program is often called the gold standard and the most respected and recognized laboratory accreditation program in the world.
During the CAP visit, inspectors examined the laboratory’s records and quality control procedures for the past two years against more than 1,000 detailed and focused requirements. They also examined staff qualifications, equipment and facilities, standard operating procedures, the laboratory safety program, and overall management, in accordance with the requirements of the CAP accreditation standards.
CAP inspectors commented favorably on the high-quality testing, documentation and organization of which is managed by Megan Baker and Al O’Quinn.
“BAHC’s Clinical is a high complexity laboratory, which services approximately 600 patients a month; performing on average about 4,000 tests per month,” said O’Quinn. “The laboratory was found to be in compliance with CAP’s rigorous accreditation standards, which are designed to help ensure the highest standards of care,” Summer’s said.
“CAP accreditation has long been considered the gold standard against which laboratories are measured, and we are especially proud that the [United States Army Research Institute of Infectious Diseases] inspection resulted in zero deficiencies also,” he added.
The program is based on rigorous accreditation standards that are translated into detailed and focused checklist requirements. The checklists, which provide a quality practice blueprint for laboratories to follow, are used by the inspection teams as a guide to assess the overall management and operation of the laboratory.