Quality Assurance
Laboratory accreditation provides assurance that the laboratory is working to international standards and providing results that are of the highest possible quality.
The LTHT Microbiology department is accredited to ISO15189:2012, customer number 8157. The full scope of the tests that are accredited can be viewed on the UKAS website by following the link. The department strives to continuously update its repertoire and for this reason some tests may not be currently included on the scope of accreditation. Tests are validated or verified for use before bringing into use and where ever possible a suitable Quality assurance scheme is in place. Current tests offered that are outside scope including their status for accreditation defined in table below (data as of January 2020):
|
Test Name |
Status of Accreditation |
|
Confirmation of Giardia/Crypto EIA positives |
Not accredited |
|
Faecal Calprotectin |
Not accredited |
|
TB genotyping only |
Not accredited |
|
Speciation of Neisseria meningitidis PCR (detection is in scope) |
Not accredited |
|
NAAT testing for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea in swabs from non-genital site |
Not accredited |
|
Extended respiratory panel on Biofire |
Not accredited |
|
Cepheid Norovirus testing |
Not accredited |
|
Hepatitis E Serology |
Change to platform, for removal, extension to scope application submitted |
|
Molecular Respiratory Virus Testing |
Not accredited - extension to scope application submitted |
|
Cepheid TB and drug resistance |
Not accredited - extension to scope application submitted |
|
COVID-19 PCR testing |
Not accredited for testing on Qiagen NeuMoDx and Alinity m - extension to scope application submitted |
|
CMV IgG confirmatory testing |
Change to platform - to apply for extension to scope |
| Group B Streptococcus screening in pregnancy | Not accredited - to apply for extension to scope |
| HSV and Syphilis PCR | Change to platform, extension to scope application submitted |
| COVID-19 antibody testing | Not accredited - extension to scope application submitted |
The Public Health Laboratory including the C difficile Ribotyping Network hosted by LTHT Microbiology is accredited to ISO15189:2012, customer number 10883. The full scope of the tests that are accredited can be viewed on the UKAS website by following the link.
The Department has an extensive Quality Management system and Governance procedures in place to control all the processes within the laboratory.
We participate in a number of internal and external quality assurance schemes from NEQAS, QCMD, Labquality and Instand to ensure the quality of our results.
If you require any further information on specific tests please contact the Quality Manager, Ms Hannah Armitage ( hannah.armitage@nhs.net )
