IANZ requirements- audits, competencies, etc

Accreditation:

Hospital laboratories must pass regular inspection and accreditation certification by IANZ (International Accreditation NZ) in order to continue practicing and to receive government funding.

Canterbury Health Laboratories are included in this process of accreditation.

Internal audits:

Internal POCT audits are conducted by the CHLabs Quality Manager in conjunction with the POCT Coordinator. Regular POCT audits are a part of POCT accreditation to the Standard, ISO 22870.

 

Competency:

All laboratory staff must have current competency records for all areas in which they work. The same principle applies to POCT operators. 

Section 5.1.1 states: "The organisation shall determine and provide the human resources necessary to:"

Section 5.1.1 b: ..."ensure that required training is provided to personnel performing POCT from all services, programmes and departments." 

Further, Section D.5.1.5 b) states that:

"Only personnel who have completed the training and demonstrated competence shall carry out POCT. Records of training/attestation and of retraining and re-attestation shall be retained."

All competency retesting is performed annually by either "Key Operators", or by the POCT Coordinator. All competencies are entered into the CDHB Training and Competency database.  

CHLabs POCT Accreditation does not currently include glucose meters. However, some wards or departments do test their staff competency for glucose meters, regardless, a proactive attitude that is to be commended.

Connectivity will solve a lot of mass competency problems. Password protection and QC lockout will enable POCT operators to provide evidence of easy audit trails, automatic competency updates and a complete electronic patient record to be kept.

In 2008, networked glucose meters will be installed, replacing the older non-compliant type currently in use. These new glucose meters will incorporate barcode scanners. Quality Control testing that gives a PASS rating by the system for each operator will allow automatic competency updating. Results will be transmitted electronically into the patient e-record. All activity can be monitored from web-based applications and bi-directional communication to all meters can be monitored from a lab-based server.

This demonstrable audit trail of results and operators will permit glucose meter accreditation to the ISO 22870 Standard.

Legislation of interest to Point of Care Testing 

For more information about these standards please contact the Point of Care Testing Coordinator.