The following frequently asked questions are for BC facilities and clinics that are considering offering COVID-19 testing.
Except in some circumstances, COVID-19 testing requires accreditation by the College’s Diagnostic Accreditation Program (DAP).
What type of COVID-19 testing site requires accreditation?
The Public Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, clarified in March 16, 2021 that any site, laboratory, or company that charges for point of care (POC) testing for COVID-19 is required to receive full independent accreditation through the DAP. This applies to sites using gold standard PCR testing and testing performed by rapid POC tests, including Abbott Panbio, Abbott ID Now, Hyris bCube, BD Veritor and other Health Canada approved devices. Further guidance is available here.
As per the College Bylaws, a registrant may not utilize or practise in a diagnostic facility in BC unless that facility is accredited.
Can specimen collection be performed in physician offices?
Both physicians and nurse practitioners may collect COVID-19 specimens and forward them to accredited DAP laboratories for testing.
What happens when facilities are not accredited?
Unaccredited facilities offering COVID-19 testing will be contacted by the DAP and directed to stop all testing. However, specimens may still be collected by physicians, nurse practitioners, or their delegates and forwarded to DAP-accredited laboratories. If necessary, the facility and any physicians involved will be referred to the College’s Inquiry Committee for further action.
How does a facility become accredited?
Physicians and facilities that wish to become accredited should contact the DAP by emailing dap@cpsbc.ca. More information about the DAP accreditation process is available here.