What Is the Microbiology Assessment Checklist?

This resource provides a standardized method for taking inventory of personnel and available services, as well as assessing and scoring the performance of a clinical microbiology laboratory. It includes an inventory of personnel. The desired outcome is to provide a basis for assessment of stepwise laboratory improvement toward accreditation. The checklist may be used for laboratories that perform only bacteriology or those that also perform parasitology and/or mycology.

Who Benefits from Participating in This Program?

• Clinical laboratory technologists who wish to perform self-assessment on behalf of their laboratory section.
• ​Clinical laboratory managers with leadership roles.
• Experienced and aspiring clinical laboratory mentors.

How Does the Checklist work?

The checklist is used for baseline assessment at the outset of mentoring, at the end of a mentoring visit and periodically thereafter to monitor progress toward readiness for accreditation. It should also be used by laboratory leaders for self-assessment purposes.

The checklist combines the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 15189 standards with the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Laboratory General and Microbiology and the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) TG and TR standards. There are 6 sections assessing quality system essentials and 3 considering the technical aspects of clinical bacteriology, parasitology and mycology. The latter 2 are optional.