Biomedicine

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Accreditation of medical laboratories by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) ISO 15189 is needed to improve quality and safety in healthcare. It is a rigorous third-party external evaluation process that encompasses assessment against a given set of standards. The aim is to narrate the process of accreditation of a diagnostic laboratory affiliated to a newly established teaching medical institute and elaborate various facets which were worked upon from initialization till the culmination of the assessment.
Methods: Bulk of data is the author’s first-hand experience as all worked hands-on in getting the NABL accreditation from July 2022 to January 2023. For standards and technical information guidelines of NABL & ISO 15189:2012 was referred. Input from peers working in accredited labs was taken. Entire process of preparation and applying for accreditation aspects was compiled and presented.
Results: With interdepartmental coordination and changes in workflow process complemented by document control procedures culminated in the laboratory successfully getting accredited.
Conclusion: The entire process of getting accreditation was challenging but nevertheless gratifying. For medical laboratories affiliated to teaching institutes accreditation needs extra time and effort but is nonetheless achievable.