AbstractIntroduction: 70% of clinical decision making is predicted upon, or confirmed by, or documented by medical laboratory test results. Accurate laboratory services are required for diagnosis, to identify causative factors, staging, treatment initiation, monitoring drug efficacy and toxic effects in cancer patients. Purpose: 1. to provide accurate, early, reliable and universally acceptable results to patients in a Cost-effective way. 2. To improve operational efficiency and safety of laboratory personnel 3. Encourage other laboratories to apply for National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). Methods: A quality manager was appointed to supervise the implementation of accreditation. Quality manual was prepared and from it Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), registers and formats were made according to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 15189 guidelines. Results: Quality of our laboratory services and reports are improved thereby gaining the confidence of clinicians and patients in our institute. Our technicians are more efficient in their work. Conclusions: Although accreditation is a time consuming and laborious process, it is a doable process. It provides early warning signs and identifies lacunae in our system. We encourage all the teaching hospitals and laboratories to apply for accreditation.
Keywords: Accreditation; Hematology Laboratory; ISO 15189; NABL.