Reasons for Delay of Accreditation for Vascular Testing Laboratories Applying for Accreditation by Intersocietal Accreditation Commission

Abstract

The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) vascular testing accreditation process is designed to be educational through a process of self-examination and feedback from peer review. Accreditation is awarded based on compliance with published Standards. The objective of this study was to identify the most common reasons for accreditation delay and noncompliance with the published Standards among vascular laboratories applying for IAC accreditation. The IAC database was used to extract laboratory data and findings of application review for vascular laboratories applying for accreditation in 2016. Most laboratories applying for accreditation (88.7%, 535/603) had 1 or more accreditation delay issues that had to be rectified before accreditation was granted. The most common not compliant findings included reporting issues, discordant findings between the test documentation and final impression, poor image quality, diagnostic criteria issues, and missed diagnostic findings. Most laboratories corrected identified issues (82.2%, 440/535) within 90 days. IAC accreditation recognizes a laboratory as having met minimum quality Standards. For vascular laboratories reviewed by IAC, most accreditation issues were due to deficiencies in reporting, documentation, and image quality.