Which Skills are Needed and How They Should be Gained by Laboratory Medicine Professionals for Successful ISO 15189 Accreditation.

Clinical laboratories worldwide are accredited according to the "ISO standard, 15189:2012: Medical Laboratories-Requirements for Quality and Competence." Seeking accreditation has many challenges. Success requires the right competencies and knowledge and the right technical expert and trainer to lead the laboratory through the process. The right competencies and knowledge typcially are beyond the core knowledge, skills and attitudes gained during education of laboratory professionals. The main objective of this paper is to discuss what competencies, knowledge and expertise are essential for laboratories to meet accreditation challenges and gain ISO 15189:2012 accreditation.