Update: CAP International Inspections

Communication Date: October, 2020
NOTE: The information below was current at the time of communication. Subsequent CAP changes, if applicable, are not reflected in this eAlert.

For the latest on CAP inspections, please visit: 2020 Modified Inspection Processes

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) has been working to help you navigate the unique complexity and compliance requirements of SARS-CoV-2 testing along with your everyday high-quality laboratory management and testing for patients. We hope you have found the many resources added to our website, webinars, and new PT to be helpful.

Because of COVID-19, we delayed inspections. However, the CAP is now ready to begin to schedule international virtual inspections for non-CLIA laboratories.*

We will be prioritizing laboratories where inspections are overdue. We will then proceed with contacting those laboratories who have regularly planned inspections, which we will also conduct virtually.

We have been piloting virtual inspections internationally and the pilot is going well! Here are some highlights of what to expect:

• Both the laboratory director and the inspection team must agree ahead of time to perform the inspection 100% virtually.
• The process will require laboratories to provide electronic documents to the inspection team for review as well as be able to facilitate, and participate in, some method of live video observation of laboratory practices.
• The laboratory director and the team leader will discuss which technologies/platforms to use to accomplish the document review and live observation of laboratory practices (Skype, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, FaceTime, or GoToMeeting).
• The laboratory director and team leader will determine the inspection date range. Inspections will be comprised of dedicated blocks of time over a few days rather than completing the inspection in a single day.

More details to come! Our accreditation assignments team will be contacting you with information about scheduling and planning for your virtual inspection. While we work on scheduling and planning overdue inspections, please be reassured your laboratory will remain CAP accredited.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through these challenging times together. Should you have questions beforehand, please contact lapassignments@cap.org.

*CLIA-licensed laboratories expect to hear from us soon for our plans for your inspections!