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Michigan Public Health Laboratory Receives College of American Pathologist Accreditation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 10, 2013 

LANSING – After a two year application process, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Bureau of Laboratories recently received accreditation by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) making Michigan one of three state public health laboratories out of more than 7,000 CAP-accredited facilities worldwide.

The recognition is based on the results of a recent on-site inspection as part of the CAP’s Accreditation Programs. During the CAP accreditation process, designed to ensure the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients, inspectors examine the laboratory's records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and record, and overall management.

The laboratories’ director, Sandip H. Shah, PhD, MSc, HCLD (ABB), was advised of this national recognition and congratulated for the excellence of the services being provided. “We are extremely honored to now be accredited as a College of American Pathologists state public health laboratory,” said Dr. Shah. “The work done at our laboratory benefits not only Michigan residents, but residents throughout the nation as well. This recognition is a tremendous achievement for our program.”

The U.S. federal government recognizes the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, begun in the early 1960s, as being equal to or more stringent than the government’s own inspection program. CAP accreditation assures that MDCH Bureau of Laboratories will continue to be a leader in providing quality laboratory science for healthier people and communities.

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About the College of American Pathologists

The College of American Pathologists (CAP), celebrating 50 years as the gold standard in laboratory accreditation, is a medical society that serves more than 18,000 physician members and the global laboratory community. It is the world's largest association composed exclusively of board-certified pathologists and is the worldwide leader in laboratory quality assurance. The College advocates accountable, high-quality, and cost-effective patient care, More information about the CAP can be found at www.cap.org.