Notification to CAP-Accredited Laboratories: IQCP Update

To College of American Pathologists (CAP) Accredited Laboratories:

As a service to CAP-accredited laboratories, the CAP is providing additional resources for developing an Individualized Quality Control Plan (IQCP). This is a follow up to our communication on May 5, 2015, announcing the CAP's plans to introduce IQCP checklist requirements.

The following additional resources are available:

• Members from the CAP, American Society of Microbiology (ASM), and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) jointly developed materials to help guide microbiology laboratories in the development of an IQCP. The following materials are available as a guide for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST); however, they do not guarantee approval by licensing, certifying, or accrediting agencies or organizations:
  • AST IQCP Introduction
  • AST IQCP Q&A
  • AST IQCP Template
  • AST IQCP Example
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an IQCP workbook, "Developing an IQCP: A Step-By-Step Guide," that is available for download on the CMS website. It uses an example scenario to guide through the process of developing an IQCP that can be sustained and modified over time, as needed, including forms that can be used to record the activities.
• A Complimentary CAP Focus on Compliance webinar is scheduled for August 19, 2015, titled, "What You Really Need To Know About the Individualized Quality Control Plan (IQCP) and Ensuring Your Laboratory's Compliance." It will be presented by Deborah A. Perry, MD, FCAP. Registration for this event will begin on June 24, 2015, on the CAP website.

The CAP will continue to provide additional information on IQCP as it becomes available.

Questions? Contact us at 800-323-4040 or accred@cap.org.