Lab increases capacity to meet more demand
The College of American Pathologists, or CAP, has accredited the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Energy beryllium laboratory in Oak Ridge for the sixth time since the laboratory’s first accreditation in 2009.
The laboratory is one of only three labs nationwide that performs the beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test. This test determines if a patient has developed a sensitization to beryllium, which could evolve into chronic beryllium disease. Exposure to the lightweight metal is often encountered by inhaling beryllium dust particulates in an industrial workplace setting.
The biannual CAP accreditation process requires an onsite inspection of all procedures and processes as well as the laboratory’s records, a press release said. During this process, inspectors thoroughly examine staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and its records, and overall management. They follow lab personnel through each stage, from unpacking the blood specimens through the processing of these samples to the final analysis to determine if any of the samples show a sensitization to beryllium, the press release said.
“The CAP accreditation program remains one of the most stringent lab certification programs recognized by the federal government, and we are proud to have maintained our accreditation for the past 10 years as we continue to provide excellence in beryllium testing,” said laboratory director Donna Cragle, who is ORISE director of health, environment, and radiation management. “With the recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s stricter guidelines to beryllium permissible exposure limits for workers, our lab has increased our capacity in an effort to meet the anticipated demand of more requested tests.”
For more information on the ORISE beryllium testing lab, visit https://orise.orau.gov/worker-health/beryllium/testing-laboratory.html or email Barbara Neill at barbara.neill@orau.org.
For more information on the recent OSHA stricter beryllium guidelines for workers, visit https://www.osha.gov/berylliumrule/.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
This press release was submitted by Amy Schwinge.
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