The College has partnered with the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) to promote the ISO 15189 standard for international medical laboratory accreditation in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region. This collaboration will include developing local capacity, knowledge and understanding of the ISO 15189 standard within the region and its practical application and assessment methodology for accrediting medical laboratories.

A key outcome of the collaboration will be the establishment of a network of College Fellows who will undergo the necessary training to become accredited ISO 15189/ UKAS assessors within the MENA region.

This introductory seminar has been jointly organised by the College and UKAS to provide interested Fellows with an overview of the following:

• The importance of international accreditation for laboratories and current priorities in the MENA region;
• The assessor’s role in the laboratory accreditation process;
• The competencies, minimum standards and training requirements for assessors;
• The ISO 15189 accreditation process and the role/contribution of the pathologist

Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions, hear from experiences assessors and register to join the RCPath/UKAS ISO 15189 Assessor Training Programme.