Yes: DoH is setting up POCT accreditation but CPA is part of UKAS [they
share a chief executive] and are in fact working together on this: 

[I was at a meeting at the Dept of Health representing the Joint Working
Gp a few weeks ago].The ACB were also represented, as was the British
Pharmaceutical Society.



TIM



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-----Original Message-----
From: Clinical biochemistry discussion list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Bullock
Sent: 15 November 2008 15:45
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: DH Vascular Checks programme - new documents


On 14 Nov 2008 at 15:54, Ian Barlow wrote:

> For those of us without POCT co-coordinators could you please let us 
> how we might provide this support?
> 
> Moreover, given that patients with hyperlipidaemia are also likely to 
> have other blood tests done, could you also explain what benefits are 
> to be gained by lots of GP surgeries providing expensive POCT 
> cholesterols and duplicating a service that is provided by the local 
> CPA accredited laboratory? Is the POCT band wagon evidence based?

Unfortunately I couldn't see any route for reimbursing labs for
providing 
advice or even support (except through whoever the PCT lets a 
contract to)

It also looks as though CPA may have no role whatsoever in this - 
"The Department is currently developing an accreditation scheme for 
pathology NPT, in conjunction with the United Kingdom Accreditation 
Service (UKAS), e-Learning for Healthcare, and Skills for Health"  

Interesting to note that "devices used for NPT should
be CE-marked" rather than must - I always thought it was a criminal 
offence to sell non-CE-marked IVDs within the EU, so perhaps DH 
envisages a 'grey market' for 'under the counter' devices. I see ACB 
guidelines on POCT are mentioned - has the ACB had any input into 
these documents?

It's a jolly good job that all POCT sites (and even laboratories) 
measuring cholesterol, using whatever equipment/reagents, give 
identical results so we can have a truly uniform and universal 
programme. Of course in practice only half those registered in EQA 
return results, and a quarter of them have one or more results >15% 
from target

More reassuringly the document says "Wherever possible, it is 
important to avoid sending individuals away for their blood to be taken 
elsewhere to help ensure maximum take-up of the checks", so 
perhaps it's on site phlebotomy that's essential rather than POCT? 
Which brings me back to between-lab differences - and of course the 
awkward matter of biological variation . . .

Good luck everyone

David

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clinical biochemistry discussion list 
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Wieringa Gilbert
> (RBV) NHS Christie Tr Sent: 14 November 2008 14:56 To: 
> [log in to unmask] Subject: DH Vascular Checks programme
> - new documents
> 
> This programme was highlighted in Lord Darzi's Next Stage Review. It 
> asks the NHS to implement a uniform and universal vascular risk 
> assessment and management programme for people in England aged between

> 40 and 74. In response, NHS Primary Care Contracting has issued a 
> Primary Care Service Framework to support high quality commissioning (

> <http://www.pcc.nhs.uk/204> http://www.pcc.nhs.uk/204) and the 
> Department of Health has issued a 'Next Steps' guide at 
> <http://www.pcc.nhs.uk/news/531> http://www.pcc.nhs.uk/news/531. Both 
> documents include reference to the conduct of near patient testing 
> (e.g. for cholesterol) that may lead to PCTs/commissioners to approach
> their local laboratories for support.     
> 

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