[Acronym of the Day]: DAP

Acronyms are certainly part any workplace's jargon; the lab is no different in that respect.

One of the more important ones to know about is DAP.

What is DAP, and what does it do? The Diagnostic Accreditation Program, according to the DAP website:

"sets accreditation standards for best practices that are evidence based, outcome focused and aligned to the principles of continuous quality improvement. The accreditation standards are comprehensive and address medical, technical, and management aspects of service delivery."


Since 1971, each facility in British Columbia that performs laboratory testing must be DAP reviewed, public or private.

What this boils down to is every four years, an outside team of your profession/stakeholders comes in and goes over your work with a fine toothed comb to ensure you are meeting standards in patient care, quality, and safety. It sets an external standard of trust in the system, and encourages vigilance in maintaining current methods, up to date safety procedures, and overall evidence based best practice.

DAP also produces a line of external quality control samples, or blind controls, to ensure your results are accurate. They are released quarterly, and laboratories that do not meet standards are held accountable.

The DAP is headed by some of the top minds in each discipline in the province; there are representatives from the management, educational and the vocational views on each board. They in turn supervise DAP teams, each formed depending on the facility and disciplines necessary in review.

If you have a chance to participate in a DAP review of another facility, take it; it's a great way to learn from the ground up.