News Release

ACP Medical Laboratory Evaluation program gains approval from CAP accreditation program

Business Announcement

American College of Physicians

Washington, July 19, 2010—The American College of Physicians' Medical Laboratory Evaluation (MLE) program recently gained approval to offer certain analytes for use with the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Laboratory Accreditation Program (LAP). The CAP accreditation program is an internationally-recognized program that uses more rigorous standards than regulatory compliance to help labs achieve the highest standard of excellence. In order to qualify for accreditation, labs must perform proficiency testing on required analytes.

"MLE is very proud to have had our program reviewed by CAP and to have almost 100 of our offered analytes accepted by their LAP program," said MLE Director Connie Laubenthal. "Using the LAP, or similar program, ensures your lab has a good quality assurance program. Similarly, MLE has always had the highest of standards in providing quality materials to our participants and we pride ourselves on our standard of excellence in processing and analyzing the data received from our participant laboratories."

The full listing of tests accepted by CAP's LAP program is located at http://www.acponline.org/mle/cap.pdf

MLE's mission is to administer a service-oriented proficiency testing program that provides technical and educational tools necessary to assess, monitor, and improve the quality of laboratory testing. After 37 years, MLE's goals remain to provide courteous and flexible customer service, to educate through the dissemination of technical information, and to promote compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements.

###

For a catalog or more information on MLE's proficiency testing program, continuing education or other products and services, please contact MLE at 1-800-338-2746, option 5; or by e-mail at mle@acponline.org; or visit MLE's comprehensive website at www.acponline.org/mle.

ACP's Medical Laboratory Evaluation (MLE) proficiency testing began in 1973 as the Proficiency Evaluation Program (PEP), a collaborative effort between the American Society of Internal Medicine (ASIM) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Initially a program for physician office laboratories, MLE now also serves hospitals and health care systems worldwide. The American College of Physicians works to enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care by fostering excellence and professionalism in the practice of medicine.

The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. ACP members include 130,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internists specialize in the prevention, detection, and treatment of illness in adults. Follow ACP on Twitter and Facebook.


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.