Why Accreditation Matters

We partnered with NATA and the forensic science community to develop the forensic science accreditation program in the 1990s. The program has contributed significantly to standardising forensic science quality assurance across Australia.

I have found that NATA’s continued engagement with the forensic science community through the Forensic Science Accreditation Advisory Committee has supported the program’s growth and development, ensuring it remains contemporary and relevant to forensic science laboratories and their stakeholders.

NSW Health Pathology (NSWHP) has held NATA ISO 15189 accreditation since 1990. Since this time, it has allowed us to focus on best practice and continually improve our practices as the accreditation process itself has evolved.

Accreditation to ISO 15189 has given us industry credibility brought about by the breadth and scope of the audit process.

Overall, NATA accreditation has improved public confidence in our pathology testing as well as confidence within our organisation that we provide an excellent and vital service.

NATA accredits Point of Care Testing’s (PoCT) more than 400 locations to ISO 15189 medical laboratories — requirements for quality and competence.

We strongly believe their accreditation provides the formal recognition that PoCT produces reliable, technical results. The flow on effects includes an increase in customer confidence in the technology we use and a deeper trust in PoCT in helping provide novel solutions.

NATA accreditation of our facilities has been a core part of the PoCT evolution and we appreciate the commitment by NATA to providing a comprehensive accreditation solution for all our facilities.

Public Pathology Australia is the peak body for government owned and operated pathology services.  All 18 members across Australia are accredited under ISO 15189. 

NATA accreditation is important in providing market confidence that our members have adhered to national accreditation standards.  The industry credibility that NATA provides is important to our members. 

Recognition as a NATA accredited laboratory facilitates business opportunities by providing recognition that the organisation delivers high quality pathology services.   When representing government owned and operated pathology services, promotion and advocacy for our members is important.  NATA accreditation provides certification of quality.

Pathology Queensland (PQ) provides a single networked public hospital pathology service throughout Queensland. Comprising 35 laboratories and 38 pathology collection centres that provide specimen collection, analytical testing, results interpretation, clinical consultation, teaching and research.

PQ Laboratories have been accredited by NATA in the fields of Medical and Biological testing since the late 1980s. Over the last 30 years PQ has seen firsthand how the NATA accreditation framework has matured and adapted to emerging needs which has led to high quality standards and International recognition.

As a result, our Australian and international clients have confidence that they will receive consistently reliable results and service that meet NPAAC, AS ISO 15189 and AS ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

NMI has held NATA accreditation for over 30 years. Through this time, we have seen substantial business growth and increased market confidence in our services. In addition, we have benefitted from increased international access to our services. Importantly, we have been able to demonstrate – through our NATA accreditation, the highest level of test standards and quality of services.

Despite our market scope being wide, we enjoy excellent industry credibility through our NATA accreditation. This includes wide brand recognition, industry influence and trust within the broader community.

Importantly, our accreditation and the processes followed provide superior patient health outcomes for patients.

In addition, NMI’s NATA accreditation assists our strategically important partners such the Federal and State Government departments of Agriculture, Health and Environment.

MDU PHL has held accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025 for Food and Beverage, Environment since 1972, Animal Health since 2009 and ISO 15189 Human Pathology since 1991.

As a Public Health Laboratory NATA accreditation is critical to our business providing confidence to our clients that all processes are audited to a documented quality assurance program.

NATA accreditation allows for a​n impartial third party to view our quality systems in order to facilitate discussion and ​continual improvement.

Continual improvement resulting in a high-quality testing service, which benefits customers and patients.