CAP Accreditation Guide for Laboratories
The "gold standard" of laboratory accreditation. Here's what CAP requires and how to prepare for inspections without losing your mind.
Why Pursue CAP Accreditation?
Regulatory Acceptance
Satisfies CLIA requirements, recognized by Joint Commission and state agencies
Quality Improvement
Standards push beyond minimum requirements for genuine quality
Peer Inspection Model
Trained laboratory professionals who understand your challenges
Competitive Advantage
Many health systems and payers require CAP accreditation
Key CAP Requirements & LIMS Support
Quality Management System
LIMS support: Track quality indicators, manage occurrences, CAPA workflows, improvement documentation
Document Control
LIMS support: Version-controlled procedures, change approval workflows, staff acknowledgment tracking
Personnel & Competency
LIMS support: Qualifications, training completion, competency assessments, system restrictions by competency
Quality Control
LIMS support: Automatic QC capture, Levey-Jennings plotting, Westgard rules, lockout when QC fails
Proficiency Testing
LIMS support: PT sample flagging, access controls during testing, performance tracking
Result Reporting
LIMS support: Validation rules, critical value alerting, amendment procedures with audit trails
The CAP Inspection Process
Need CAP Preparation Help?
We help laboratories prepare for CAP inspections, configure LIMS to support checklist requirements, and address common deficiency areas.
Get CAP preparation guidance