Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 1

Written Answers. - Laboratory Accreditation Scheme.

Bernard Allen

Question:

179 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will give details of the national accreditation system for medical laboratories; and the steps, if any, he has taken to eliminate situations where the quality of cervical smear tests was called into question earlier in 1999. [25605/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

In common with other EU member states, Ireland is currently developing a formal laboratory accreditation scheme in consultation with the relevant statutory and professional interests. These are the National Accreditation Board, clinical pathologists, medical laboratory technicians and biochemists. The professional interests are represented by a joint working group, comprising representatives from the faculty of pathology, RCPI; the Academy of Medical Laboratory Science, and the Association of Clinical Biochemists.

The objective of these discussions is to develop and implement a formal accreditation system for pathology laboratories. The arrangements for the scheme are now being finalised and I am providing a sum of £0.400 million in 2000 to meet start-up costs and to assist health agencies in the detailed preparatory work that will be required of them.

With regard to the quality of cervical smear tests, the report of the Department of Health and Children cervical screening committee contained many recommendations on quality assurance in the context of the introduction of a national cervical screening programme. Phase one of the national programme will commence in early 2000 in the Mid-Western Health Board area.

The expert advisory committee on cervical screening, which is overseeing the introduction of Phase one of the programme has also considered the issue of best practice in relation to cervical screening. The committee is in the process of finalising comprehensive guidelines on quality assurance in all areas of cervical screening, including quality assurance in laboratories.

These guidelines will make detailed recommendations on the reception of slides, laboratory preparation, reporting practice, management of smear results, assessment of adequacy of smears, staffing, training and continuing professional development, laboratory equipment and environment, quality control of smear reporting, accuracy, retention of slides and cytopathology laboratory processes. When finalised the guidelines will be made available to hospital laboratories for implementation.