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The number of applications per quarter varies, but generally exceeds
300, resulting in over 600 reviews per quarter. During this
time, two laboratories are randomly selected for site visits
using a computer program created for this purpose.
Once the in-house reviews are complete and applications are assigned
to Application Reviewers, the completed applications are boxed
and shipped to reviewers who are located throughout the United
States and Canada. Over the next four to six weeks, the applications
undergo a detailed review of clinical components, including
the case studies, for adherence to The Standards.
Upon completion of each application's review, the comments and recommendations are returned to the ICAEL office, and the ICAEL Technical Manager
enters the information from both reviewers into the database.
The data is then compiled and reviewed by the IAC Executive
Director and Technical Manager in preparation for discussion
and a final review by the ICAEL Board of Directors.
After the Board Of Directors meets and makes the accreditation decisions,
the Director of Accreditation notifies the laboratory in writing
of the Board decisions and any additional information required
to grant accreditation. These notification letters are given
priority and are sent in the timeliest manner possible. Two
copies of the correspondence are sent; an original to the Medical
Director, and a copy to the Technical Director. When accreditation
is granted, the certificates accompany the letter to the Technical
Director and are sent UPS Ground in order to provide a tracking
mechanism of the documents.
As illustrated above, there are a number of avenues through which
an accreditation application must travel in order to complete
the cycle. The Board Of Director's meetings are held within
the same months each quarter, but the dates vary based on the
availability of these volunteers. It should be reassuring to
laboratories that the process of reviewing applications and
determining accreditation decisions is thorough and lengthy
— a fitting complement to the time and effort put into their
initial preparation by those seeking accreditation.
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