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UK SMI Consultations

Open consultations

UK SMI Q 1: Validation and Verification of Diagnostic Tests

This consultation is open from 07.09.2026 to 23.09.2026

We are pleased to invite stakeholders, clinicians, laboratory professionals, and other interested parties to comment on the revised UK SMI Q 1 - Validation and Verification of Diagnostic Tests.

This updated document has been substantially revised to reflect current accreditation requirements, regulatory expectations, and developments in diagnostic microbiology. New and expanded content includes:

  • Validation and verification requirements aligned with current standards
  • In-house and modified diagnostic tests
  • Next-generation sequencing (NGS)
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST)
  • Point-of-care testing (POCT)
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithm-based systems
  • Diagnostic performance assessment and reference standards

We welcome feedback on the content, clarity, applicability, and supporting evidence.

To contribute to the consultation, please submit your comments via the consultation survey:

We would also like to highlight that CPD certificates are available for those participating in the consultation. If you would like a certificate, please indicate this on the consultation form.

If you experience any difficulties accessing the survey, please contact the Standards Unit at [email protected].

 

Closed consultations

Our closed consultations are arranged by year and sorted by their area

UK SMI Consultations: Identification

UK SMI ID 01: Introduction to the preliminary identification of medically important bacteria and fungi from culture

UK SMI ID 04: Identification of Streptococcus species, Enterococcus species and morphologically similar organisms

UK SMI ID 06: identification of Neisseria species

UK SMI ID 07: Identification of Staphylococcus species, Micrococcus species and Rothia species

UK SMI ID 11: Identification of Moraxella species and morphologically similar organisms

UK SMI ID 12: Identification of Haemophilus species and the HACEK group of organisms

UK SMI ID 15: identification of Actinomyces and reclassified species

UK SMI ID 17: Identification of Pseudomonas species and other non-glucose fermenters

UK SMI Consultations: Syndromic

UK SMI S 06: Infectious syndromes affecting the genitourinary tract and reproductive organs

UK SMI S 13: painful and/or discharging ear

UK SMI S 16: Postmortem microbiology

UK SMI Consultations: Virology

UK SMI V 4: Laboratory diagnosis of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis D virus

UK SMI V 5: Laboratory diagnosis of hepatitis C virus

UK SMI V 37: Chlamydia and gonorrhoea infection – testing by Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs)

UK SMI V 44: Laboratory diagnosis of syphilis

UK SMI V11: HIV screening and confirmation

UK SMI Consultations: Bacteriology

UK SMI B 05: Investigation of nasal and paranasal sinus samples

UK SMI B 10: Investigation of faecal specimens for Clostridioides difficile

UK SMI B 57: Investigation of samples for lower respiratory tract infections caused by bacterial pathogens

UK SMI B 63: Investigation of samples for lower respiratory tract infections caused by fungal pathogens