Post Public Health Emergency: Inspection Date Notification

Communication date: March 8, 2023

NOTE: The information below was current at the time of communication. Subsequent CAP changes, if applicable, are not reflected in this eAlert

Laboratories Located in the U.S. and Canada

With the U.S. COVID public health emergency (PHE) set to expire on May 11, 2023, the CAP is preparing to transition its laboratory inspection date notification process for laboratories located in the U.S. and Canada.

Throughout the PHE, the CAP notified all laboratories of the date of their inspection once it was scheduled. Once the PHE expires, the CAP will introduce a new inspection date notification process for laboratories located in the U.S. and Canada to comply with U.S. federal regulations pertaining to deemed providers of laboratory inspection and accreditation services, as well as the CAP's current collaborative agreement with the Joint Commission (JC) for inspection of CAP-accredited laboratories at JC institutions.

In the upcoming months, the CAP will implement the following inspection date notification updates:

• All CAP-accredited laboratories affiliated with a JC-accredited institution will be notified one hour prior to inspection, per the current JC collaborative agreement.
• All other CAP-accredited laboratories will be notified two weeks prior to the scheduled inspection.

International Laboratories and Laboratories in the FDT, BAP, and RLAP Programs

For international laboratories as well as any facilities accredited through the CAP’s Forensic Drug Testing, Biorepository, and Reproductive Accreditation Programs, the inspection date notification will not change; these laboratories and facilities will continue with their current inspection date notification process after the U.S. PHE expiration.

Throughout this transition, the CAP will provide updates to its accreditation customers. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at 800-323-4040 or accred@cap.org.