While it was once – and technically still is – considered "optional" for laboratories to get accredited, it's now becoming part of the essential foundation of a trustworthy medical institution. Though only a small percentage of medical labs have attained their accreditation, with the demand for it on the rise, patients can expect the world of medical testing to be revolutionized within the next few years. Due to the sheer amount of effort it takes to become accredited, should more laboratories join the cause, it will likely act as a catalyst for improvement in necessary areas such as employee training, result accuracy, and management of lab equipment.
So what does this mean for patients? For one, it will be easier to choose a lab. An accredited lab has been proven to be able to provide accurate results – meaning that the stage of diseases can more accurately be recognized, and access to necessary drugs can more readily be granted. It goes without saying that there is a strong correlation between high-quality testing methods/accurate testing results and positive outcomes for patients' health. Thus, the more facilities that have gotten their ISO 17025 lab accreditation, the higher the chance of patients getting life-saving treatments.
Labs that aren't accredited – which is the majority, in today's world – implement testing processes that are highly susceptible to sources of error. This is especially true in smaller, non-franchised labs. The majority of the risk comes from improper employee training or failure to thoroughly test operators for competency in the testing field. However, errors could also come from operators who fail to comply with the testing procedures for any reason, improper storage of medical solutions, improper use or storage of equipment, et cetera. Any and all potential sources of testing inaccuracy are addressed and minimized through the process of accreditation.
When labs adhere to the quality standards put in place by the accreditation process, though, the operations and patient care of a facility are greatly improved. The improvements are beneficial not only to patients, who are more likely to get the care they need with accurate test results, but also to the facility managers. Accreditation puts goals in place for the laboratory to meet to improve its standards and performance quality, therefore reducing costs in other areas such as re-testing while bringing in more customers and better employees. It fulfills the need for universal understanding of results, as well, which is not always a priority for laboratories but definitely should be. Overall, a company is given the competitive advantage after being accredited.
So what does this mean for patients? For one, it will be easier to choose a lab. An accredited lab has been proven to be able to provide accurate results – meaning that the stage of diseases can more accurately be recognized, and access to necessary drugs can more readily be granted. It goes without saying that there is a strong correlation between high-quality testing methods/accurate testing results and positive outcomes for patients' health. Thus, the more facilities that have gotten their ISO 17025 lab accreditation, the higher the chance of patients getting life-saving treatments.
Labs that aren't accredited – which is the majority, in today's world – implement testing processes that are highly susceptible to sources of error. This is especially true in smaller, non-franchised labs. The majority of the risk comes from improper employee training or failure to thoroughly test operators for competency in the testing field. However, errors could also come from operators who fail to comply with the testing procedures for any reason, improper storage of medical solutions, improper use or storage of equipment, et cetera. Any and all potential sources of testing inaccuracy are addressed and minimized through the process of accreditation.
When labs adhere to the quality standards put in place by the accreditation process, though, the operations and patient care of a facility are greatly improved. The improvements are beneficial not only to patients, who are more likely to get the care they need with accurate test results, but also to the facility managers. Accreditation puts goals in place for the laboratory to meet to improve its standards and performance quality, therefore reducing costs in other areas such as re-testing while bringing in more customers and better employees. It fulfills the need for universal understanding of results, as well, which is not always a priority for laboratories but definitely should be. Overall, a company is given the competitive advantage after being accredited.