|
Why is the College of American Pathologists (CAP) abbreviating the unannounced inspection window from a six-month window to a three-month window?
When will this process be implemented?
How will this process be implemented?
What if my anniversary date occurs prior to October 1, 2008?
What if I have been asked to inspect a laboratory with an anniversary date after October 1, 2008, and the inspection has already been scheduled?
How will this change affect black-out dates?
Does this change apply to laboratories in all of the accreditation programs?
How will this affect AABB-Coordinated Inspections?
Will this change affect the checklist edition by which my lab will be inspected?
Who do I contact if I have any questions?
Why is the College of American Pathologists (CAP) abbreviating the unannounced inspection window from a six-month window to a three-month window?
Initially, when the CAP implemented unannounced inspections, it was determined that we would use the six months before the laboratory's anniversary date as our inspection window. Upon further evaluation, to maintain the integrity of the CAP peer-based inspection program and to better respond to customer needs, it was determined that shortening the inspection window to three months relieves much of the undue pressure placed on those inspecting other laboratories while, at the same time, preparing for their own laboratory’s inspection. An unannounced inspection within a three-month window of time is sufficient to maintain the ideal of having the laboratory inspected on a routine day, while not long enough to enable a laboratory to make special preparations for the inspection. In addition, a non-routine inspection can take place at anytime during this inspection cycle, secondary to validation inspections, complaint investigations, etc. Therefore, this will require laboratories to be in continuous compliance with all requirements, whether the inspection window timeframe is three or six months.
[Back to the
Top]
When will this process be implemented?
The changes will take effect beginning with the reapplication process, starting on January 1, 2008. Reapplications are created nine months prior to a laboratory’s anniversary date.
[Back to the
Top]
How will this process be implemented?
As a result of this change, laboratories with an anniversary date beginning on October 1, 2008, will be among the first laboratories affected by this change. The earliest these laboratories may expect an inspection would be July 1, 2008.
[Back to the
Top]
What if my anniversary date occurs prior to October 1, 2008?
Laboratories with an anniversary date prior to October 1, 2008, will have a six-month window during which their inspection can take place. For these labs, the reapplication and inspection process planning are already in progress, therefore, no changes will be implemented at this time.
[Back to the
Top]
What if I have been asked to inspect a laboratory with an anniversary date after October 1, 2008, and the inspection has already been scheduled?
In the event that an inspection has already been scheduled, and it falls between three and six months, the laboratory must reschedule the inspection to occur within the three-month window. If this becomes necessary, please contact the CAP to reschedule.
[Back to the
Top]
How will this change affect black-out dates?
There will still be 10 black-out dates, spread out over 90 days instead of over 180 days. In situations where multiple labs are inspected at the same time, the 10 dates should be agreed upon as a group. The primary lab assumes responsibility for submitting the information for all labs involved to the CAP via the reapplication. These dates need not be consecutive.
The following holidays are considered automatic blackout dates and need not be indicated on the reapplication:
- New Year’s Day (January 1, 2008)
- Martin Luther King’s birthday (January 21, 2008)
- Presidents’ Day (February 18, 2008)
- Memorial Day (May 26, 2008)
- Independence Day (July, 4, 2008)
- Labor Day (September 1, 2008)
- Columbus Day (October 13, 2008)
- Veterans’ Day (November 11, 2008)
- Thanksgiving Day and the day after (November 27 - 28th, 2008)
- Christmas Day and the day after (December 25 - 26th, 2008)
[Back to the
Top]
Does this change apply to laboratories in all of the accreditation programs?
This change applies only to labs that have routinely unannounced inspections. The CAP Reproductive Laboratory Accreditation Program (RLAP), the Forensic Drug Testing Program (FDT) and International Laboratories and initial laboratories presently all have announced inspections.
[Back to the
Top]
How will this affect AABB-Coordinated Inspections?
The AABB assessor will continue to work with the CAP on the scheduling of inspections. They will be allowed to schedule these inspections three months prior to the laboratory’s anniversary date, which is in alignment with the AABB three-month inspection window.
[Back to the
Top]
Will this change affect the checklist edition by which my lab will be inspected?
No. The customized checklist edition mailed upon completion of processing the reapplication packet will be the same edition used for the lab inspection and will be the same edition sent to the inspection team leader.
[Back to the
Top]
Who do I contact if I have any questions?
Please contact LAP Operations at 800-323-4040 or e-mail accred@cap.org.
[Back to the
Top]
For further questions or comments, please contact the Laboratory Accreditation
Program at 800-323-4040 or e-mail accred@cap.org.
Thank you for your continued support of the College of American Pathologists’ Laboratory Accreditation Programs.
|
Related Links
