ICON, the international contract research organisation (CRO) based in Dublin, Ireland, says its central laboratories in Singapore and Bangalore, India have secured accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP).
The Bangalore facility passed the “rigorous” accreditation process within just four months of opening, ICON noted. The CRO now has a global network of CAP-accredited central laboratories in Farmingdale, New York (US), Dublin, Singapore and India.
“CAP is the gold standard by which all laboratories are measured, and this is a great achievement,” commented Bob Scott-Edwards, president of ICON Central Laboratories. “The speed at which we received CAP accreditation, in particular for our Bangalore facility, is testament to our stringent quality standards, our state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and the expertise of our global team.”
CAP certification aims to improve patient safety by raising the quality of pathology and laboratory services through education, standard-setting and ensuring that laboratories meet or exceed regulatory requirements.
The accreditation process is conducted every two years and involves an on-site evaluation by practising laboratory professionals, who examine records, quality control, staff qualifications, equipment, safety provisions and overall laboratory management.
