FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2005-08-10

SCC and OMA partnership to streamline the accreditation of medical testing laboratories

OTTAWA -The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is pleased to announce that is has entered into an agreement with the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) to establish a joint program for the accreditation of medical laboratories.

The new program will make it possible for laboratories to achieve both OMA recognition and SCC accreditation without having to undergo separate assessments or conform to different sets of criteria.

"Our goal is to make the process as effective and efficient as possible," noted Pat Paladino, Director of Conformity Assessment with the SCC. "The elimination of redundant evaluations and a more streamlined process will reduce the administrative and financial burden on medical testing laboratories."

"The OMA goal is to offer laboratories national and international formal recognition of their competence to carry out examinations" said Linda Crawford, Director of Ontario Laboratory Accreditation with the OMA.

The Standards Council's accreditation programs are based on internationally-accepted criteria, contributing to the acceptance of its accredited laboratories across Canada and around the world.

Founded in 1880, the Ontario Medical Association represents the political, clinical and economic interests of the province's medical profession and plays a vital role in the development and promotion of health-care services across Ontario.  The OMA operates the Quality Management Program Laboratory services (QMP-LS) as the designated agent of the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. For additional information on the OMA, visit: www.oma.org.

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is a Crown corporation with the mandate to coordinate and promote efficient and effective voluntary standardization in Canada. The SCC is involved in coordinating Canada's participation in the development of international standards and, as Canada's national standardization body, oversees the efforts of the National Standard System.  Its Program for Accreditation of Laboratories - Canada (PALCAN) has accredited about 400 laboratories in a variety of general testing and specialty areas. For more information on the Standard Council's accreditation programs, including PALCAN, visit www.scc.ca.

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