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Laboratory Accreditation
What is Laboratory Accreditation?
Laboratory accreditation is a formal recognition that a testing laboratory
is competent to carry out specific types of tests and continue to satisfy
all the criteria set by approving bodies. It is regarded as a reassurance to
doctors and patients that the laboratory is performing to internationally
recognised ISO 15189 standards and requirements for medical testing. As part
of the laboratory accreditation process, Diagnostix Pathology Laboratories
have been inspected by independent teams of technical and medical experts
from internationally recognised accreditation bodies HKAS (Hong KongA ccreditation Services).
What happens during accreditation assessment?
It is crucial that the laboratory is able to provide accurate and reliable test reports on patient samples. This depends on the fullfilment of the following:
• Qualified and experienced staff;
• Properly calibrated testing equipments;
• An adequate quality assurance system;
• Proper sampling procedures;
• Sound testing procedures;
• Valid test methods;
• Traceability of measurements to national and international standards;
• Accurate recording and reporting procedures;
• Suitable testing facilities.
All these factors are checked during the accreditation process to make sure that the laboratory is technically competent to do
your testing.
What does accreditation means for the users of the laboratory?
Accreditation by
HKAS is
"A Recognition of
Testing Competence"
The Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS) was set up
in 1998 by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to
provide accreditation service to the public. It was formed through the
expansion of the Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS). HKAS
now offers accreditation to laboratories, certification bodies, inspection
bodies, proficiency testing providers and reference material producers. It
may offer other accreditation services in the future when the need arises.
What is ISO 9000?
Testing facilities may be checked and certified for
their compliance to international management system standards such as ISO
9000. Although this will give you confidence in the laboratory's management
system, it tells you nothing about its technical competence, or its ability
to provide reliable and accurate test data.
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