Life Laboratories Earns Accreditation

SPRINGFIELD – Life Laboratories has been awarded accreditation by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists. The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program is recognized by the federal government as being equal to or more stringent than federal laboratory regulations and the inspection program required by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1988.

“The CAP accreditation is specific for laboratories and it means we adhere to the most stringent quality control and quality assurance methodologies that lead to providing the most accurate laboratory results in a timely manner,” said Ken Geromini, executive director of Life Laboratories.

Life Labs employs more than 200 people and reported more than 3 million test results in the past year.

In addition to the main laboratory, located at Mercy Medical Center at 299 Carew Street, there are 11 patient service centers located throughout Western Mass. Life Labs recently opened a Patient Service Center in the Mercy Wellness Center in East Longmeadow, and is open to patients who need medical laboratory tests. An outreach program also services more than 50 long-term care facilities.

During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors examine the laboratory’s records and quality control of procedures for the previous two years. Inspectors also examine the staff’s qualifications, lab equipment, facilities, safety program and record, as well as the overall management of the laboratory.