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Resources for the pathology standards

The resources below support clinicians, service providers and accrediting agencies by providing guidance on the requirements for pathology laboratories to be accredited.

Notice

From 1 July 2021, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) is responsible for coordinating the National Pathology Accreditation (NPA) Scheme and managing the development of the pathology accreditation standards.

For enquiries about the NPA Scheme or the resources provided below, email pathology@safetyandquality.gov.au.

Testing for COVID-19

In response to the coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic, the National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC) has developed a number of resources relating to COVID‑19 to support the Australian healthcare system.

Guidance on point of care testing for COVID-19

NPAAC has developed guidance to support the increased demand in COVID‑19 testing in various healthcare settings such as hospitals, pathology laboratories and primary healthcare services.

This guidance complements NPAAC’s existing Guidelines for point of care testing.

Guidance on point of care testing for COVID-19

2021

Guide, user guide or guidelines

Guidelines for COVID-19 drive through and pop-up collection facilities

State and territory governments and service providers established temporary collection facilities such as drive throughs and pop‑ups to broaden specimen collection for COVID‑19 testing in the community.

In July 2020, NPAAC released guidelines to support temporary collection facilities during the COVID‑19 pandemic. The guidelines were developed to protect consumers and ensure consistency in pathology results.

Guidelines for COVID‑19 temporary collection facilities (drive through and pop‑up)

2020

Guide, user guide or guidelines

Errors and corrections

Correction – Requirements for the retention of laboratory records and diagnostic material (Seventh Edition 2018)

2018

Publication, report or update

Correction – Requirements for the retention of laboratory records and diagnostic material (Sixth Edition 2013)

2013

Publication, report or update

Correction – Requirements for the packaging and transport of pathology specimens and associated materials (Fourth Edition 2013)

2013

Publication, report or update

Advisories

Advisory PA22/02: Structured reporting of COVID-19 text message results

22 March 2022 | Pathology accreditation standards

To clarify the expected requirements (data elements) for structured reporting of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results to consumers via text message.

Fact sheets and FAQs

An image of the first page of Retention period for deceased donor samples

Fact sheet - Retention period for deceased donor samples

2023

Fact sheet or brochure

Understanding the NPAAC Requirements for supervision in the clinical governance of medical pathology laboratories (Fifth Edition 2018)

2018

Fact sheet or brochure

Understanding the NPAAC Requirements for laboratories reporting tests for the National Cervical Screening Program (First Edition 2017)

2017

Fact sheet or brochure

Recording – Understanding the NPAAC Requirements for supervision in the clinical governance of medical pathology laboratories seminar

Best practice guidelines

The provision of direct to consumer genetic tests

2022

Publication, report or update

Previous editions of the standards (updated as of July 2023)

Tier 3A

Requirements for supervision in the clinical governance of medical pathology laboratories (Sixth Edition 2021)

2022

Publication, report or update

This document has been superseded by Requirements for supervision in the clinical governance of medical pathology laboratories (Seventh Edition 2023).

Tier 3B

Requirements for the packaging and transport of pathology specimens and associated materials (Fourth Edition 2013)

2022

Publication, report or update

This document has been superseded by Requirements for the packaging and transport of pathology specimens and associated materials (Fifth Edition).

Requirements for information communication and reporting (Fourth Edition 2020)

2022

Publication, report or update

This document has been superseded by Requirements for information communication and reporting (Fifth Edition).

Tier 4

Genetic pathology

Requirements for medical testing of human nucleic acids (Second Edition 2013)

2022

Publication, report or update

This document has been superseded by Requirements for medical testing for human genetic variation (Third Edition).

Requirements for cytogenetic testing (Third Edition 2013)

2022

Publication, report or update

This document has been superseded by Requirements for medical testing for human genetic variation (Third Edition).

Haematology

Requirements for transfusion laboratory practice (Fourth Edition 2019)

2022

Publication, report or update

This document has been superseded by Requirements for transfusion laboratory practice (Fifth Edition).

Microbiology

An image of the front cover of Tier 4 Requirements for laboratory testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) (Third Edition 2013)

Requirements for laboratory testing for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) (Third Edition 2013)

2022

Publication, report or update

This document has been superseded by Requirements for laboratory testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) (Fourth Edition).

Feedback

The Commission values your opinion. You can provide comments and feedback about this section of the Commission’s website by emailing advicecentre@safetyandquality.gov.au or phone 1800 304 056.

Find more in our resource library

Accreditation

Pathology