Accredited Laboratories - Assuring Public ConfidencePathology laboratories vary in their complexity, the numbers and types of tests they can perform, the professionals who staff them and the technology they have available. In Australia, laboratory accreditation is recognised as an essential means of promoting high quality pathology service provision to patients, their requesting doctors and to the community, and maintaining public confidence. Since 1986, Commonwealth legislation (Health Insurance Act 1973) has required that pathology laboratories must be accredited for access to the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS). The National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC) sets the national standards and guidelines for safe and quality laboratory practice that pathology laboratories must meet in order to be accredited. Assessment of laboratories against national standards is undertaken by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) in conjunction with the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA). All NCOPP members are covered by the pathology laboratory accreditation arrangements administered by Medicare Australia. They have become the industry norm in Australia.
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