Laboratory medicine

All diagnostic laboratory medicine facilities in BC must be accredited by the College’s Diagnostic Accreditation Program through one of four schemes.

Accreditation schemes

The accreditation schemes employ program-specific standards developed by the DAP using international best practices and expert consensus through the program’s advisory committees.

Staff and peer assessors with appropriate knowledge of the scope of accreditation are chosen to assess the diagnostic facility to the DAP standards. The DAP does not provide competing services or offer DAP limited service consultancy services.

For facilities that have been identified the DAP Committee as:

  • high complexity
  • high volume
  • or, both

All laboratory facilities are encouraged to participate in the DAP ISO 15189 accreditation scheme. Facilities not required to participate may proactively request ISO 15189 accreditation.

Learn more about the DAP ISO 15189 accreditation

This is the foundational accreditation for all BC facilities. All facilities (except those eligible for DAP ISO 15189) must be accredited to DAP core standards.

This applies to public and private facilities offering lab services.

Learn more about the DAP core accreditation

For facilities that:

  • provide diagnostic services near or at the patient side (e.g. point-of-care testing)
  • use complex methodology

Learn more about DAP limited service accreditation

For facilities that:

  • provide community-based diagnostic services near or at the patient side (e.g. point-of-care testing)
  • do not use complex methodology

Learn more about DAP community POCT accreditation

Find a laboratory

Look up accredited diagnostic facilities and award statuses

See list

Evaluates and establishes accreditation standards for the performance of diagnostic services
Advises DAP staff and the DAP Committee on medical, technical and management issues
DAP ISO 15189, DAP core, DAP limited service, DAP community point-of-care
Conducts on-site assessments of diagnostic facilities and services
Learn how and why DAP requires external quality assurance testing to be in done in a medical lab
Funding for the program and fees for accreditation