California Approves Deeming Authority For The CAP As Clinical Laboratory Accreditor

Contact: Joe Schramm
Phone: 800-832-7445
E-mail: JSCHRAM@CAP.ORG

Northfield, IL—The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently approved the College of American Pathologists' (CAP) application as an accrediting organization with authority to deem California clinical laboratories to be in compliance with state laws for licensure or registration.

State officials approved the application following a 2009 law enacted with support from the CAP, the national organization for board-certified pathologists, and the California Society of Pathologists (CSP). The statute's implementation will save laboratories in California from duplicate oversight requirements.

As such, laboratories accredited by approved accreditation organizations, like the CAP, are exempted from routine state inspections, provided the laboratory agrees to allow the state to have access to any accreditation record the department may require. The CDPH Laboratory Field Services (LFS) will continue to have full authority to conduct complaint investigations, sample validation inspections, and to require submission of laboratory proficiency testing results to ensure compliance with state standards.

The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, launched more than 50 years ago, accredits more than 7,800 laboratories, primarily in the US and hundreds internationally. The CAP, in coordination with LFS, currently accredits 789 laboratories with a California license.

"The CAP's Laboratory Accreditation Program, designed to ensure high quality and accurate laboratory results for patients, appreciates the partnership with California's Laboratory Field Services," said Bharati Jhaveri, MD, FCAP, chair of the CAP's Council on Accreditation and a CAP Board of Governors member. "We look forward to being a deemed provider of laboratory inspection and accreditation services for California medical laboratories and their patients."

LFS worked collaboratively with the CAP to ensure the 2009 law that raised state clinical laboratory licensing fees included recognition of accrediting bodies. Further, the CAP has worked closely with LFS and the California Laboratory Technical Advisory Committee for many years to ensure the CAP's accreditation program could meet LFS' requirements. The CAP has made several changes to its accreditation program over the years to achieve deemed status from the state of California.

About the College of American Pathologists

The CAP is the leading organization for board-certified pathologists. It serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. With more than 18,000 physician members, the CAP has led laboratory accreditation for more than 50 years with more than 7,800 CAP-accredited laboratories in 50 countries. Find more information about the CAP at CAP.ORG. Follow CAP on Twitter at @PATHOLOGISTS.