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Excel introduces a new course for medical laboratories

Excel Partnership has been delivering laboratory management systems auditor courses (including the IRCA certified Lead Auditor course) for a number of years and is now pleased to include in its portfolio, a foundation course specifically focusing on the standard for medical laboratories, ISO 15189. Prior to this time ISO 15189 was included only as an optional module for presentation in our standard courses.

Now in its third edition, ISO 15189:2012 'Medical Laboratories - Requirements for quality and competence' has its foundations in ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 9001 but is a unique document which recognises the need to address the distinctive structure, operation and needs of medical laboratories.

ISO 15189 contains criteria which can be used to develop and assess both technical competence and management systems. With the standard aligned with ISO/IEC 17025, an integral aspect of Excel's 'Introduction to ISO 15189' 1-day foundation course is to look at the interrelationship between these standards as well as to cover the additional requirements contained in the standard over and above the Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA) requirements.

The requirements of ISO 15189:2012 cover arrangements for requisition, patient preparation, identification and collection of patient samples, transportation, storage, processing and examination of clinical samples, together with subsequent validation and interpretation of test results, reporting and advice. In addition, it also includes provisions relating to how testing is to be provided in a medical emergency, considerations relating to safety and ethics in medical laboratory work, and the laboratory's role in the education and training of health care staff.

To further support our laboratory customers, Excel Partnership has developed a comparison document comparing ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 15189 which is available on request.

"We already have a broad compliment of laboratory associated courses to offer our customers and this new foundation course for ISO 15189 strengthens our portfolio of laboratory related products," says Tim Alcock, Excel's Managing Partner and lead tutor who specialises in laboratory accreditation.

For the next available course you can access Excel’s Calendar or to discuss your in-house needs, please contact us directly to speak with one of our Training Team.