ALL facilities had to be enrolled in an approved program as of January 1994. The test challenges are sent 3 times per year. Each regulated test has 5 challenges. Enforcement and sanctions will be imposed as of 1995 on previously unregulated laboratories. Once again, states with state licensure may be restricted to specific proficiency testing programs.
NOTE ☞: Information on PT companies can be found in the quality control chapter, information on proficiency testing rules can be found in the quality assessment plan.
The first citation of unsuccessful proficiency testing will not result in the imposition of a sanction if the lab's deficiencies do not pose immediate jeopardy. Unsuccessful PT testing in subsequent events will result in the imposition of a sanction.
An annual Registry will be compiled of labs that have been imposed with sanctions or legal actions. This Registry will be available to physicians and the general public.
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