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Update on our Scope of Accreditation

The Pathology Laboratory services at Ä¢¹½tvÊÓƵ (specifically relating to Blood Sciences, Specialist Laboratory Medicine, and Microbiology) undertook the decision (agreed with UKAS) to voluntarily suspend our UKAS ISO15189:2022 accreditation scope for the specialities being relocated to the new Centre for Laboratory Medicine (CfLM) facility.

This was a proactive and precautionary measure to maximise the resource available to support safe and efficient transfer of operations during the critical transition period. Maintaining our standard assessment schedule during this period would not provide that flexibility.

These measures will remain in place only until the relocation is complete and a successful UKAS assessment has been undertaken within the new facility.

Assessment visits are scheduled for our Microbiology and Blood Sciences services, but due to unforeseen delays to finalising relocations, Specialist Laboratory Medicine are yet to start.

We anticipate official reinstatement of accredited status will follow once any resulting findings raised by UKAS have been cleared. Changes to the accreditation schedule (i.e. reinstatement of accreditation for the laboratory services concerned), will be clearly communicated via updates on this webpage.

The following continue to apply during the voluntary suspension period: 

• All testing will continue under our ISO 15189 2022-accredited single Quality Management System, with full adherence to validated procedures and standard operating practices falling under this remit.
• There will be no compromise in staff competence, equipment calibration, or result quality, which will continue to be internally audited.
• Internal auditing and other key quality assurance measures, such as standard External Quality Assessment and Internal Quality Control measures will continue without interruption to maintain patient safety and data integrity.

Accreditation of our Cellular Pathology, Laboratory Genetics and UKHSA services’ will remain unaffected (the above only applies to services that have or are in the process of relocating to new premises). These services will continue with their scheduled assessment cycles, inclusive of both quality management and technical activities. 

We appreciate your understanding and partnership as we look to conclude this significant period of change, which will bring about significant enhancements to service delivery, within a modern, purpose-built facility.

Should you require any further details, please contact: [email protected] and use the subject header ‘UKAS accreditation enquiry’.