The outcome of the meeting of the Technical Committee ML/2024/1 – Pathology Department in spring 2024 is the approval of the nomenclature for biological material and analyte used within the scope of accreditation for cytological and biopsy laboratories. The document contains (please see Slovak version of website) a detailed explanation of each type of biological material and at the same time a precise description of a specific analysis in a given investigation area.

In the autumn 2025, the technical committee ML/2025/1 met, in which the draft scope of accreditation for the field of cytogenetics was approved. The output is an informative overview for cytogenetic laboratories, presented in the document - please see Slovak versiom of website.

SNAS has been a signatory of EA MLA and ILAC MRA in the field of accreditaion of medical laboratories since 2001. In accordance with EA and ILAC policies, SNAS provides accreditation activities to ensure permanent fulfillment of all requirements resulting from the relevant accreditation scheme ISO 15189. In the field of medical laboratory accreditation, medical laboratories are currently accredited by SNAS in the areas of: clinical biochemistry, clinical hematology and transfusion, clinical microbiology, medical genetics and clinical pathology.

The application for the accreditation service is submitted only through the accreditation information system - AIS

Registration in AIS is required before submitting the first application for accreditation.

When filling out the application for the accreditation service for testing laboratories, it is necessary to insert the completed Annex OA 3.

In the case of a change in accreditation of a formal nature according to point 7.1.7 of MSA-04 (e.g. formal modification in the area or scope of accreditation, change in normative documents, change in standard that doesn`t affect the method, inclusion of reported changes of flexible RA, modification of RA resulting from requirements regulator, modification of RA resulting from requirements of mandatory documents EA, ILAC, IAF, other modifications that don`t affect the relevant determining data, etc.), it`s necessary to submit an application on the form TL 607 Application for change of accreditation of a formal nature.

Please see Slovak version of website: Checklist for medical laboratories according to ISO 15189

In connection with the implementation of the information system project, the result of which should be the simplification and transparency of the entire accreditation process, the Slovak National Accreditation Service prepared list of determining data for individual areas of accreditation.

Defining the determining data describing the activity of testing and medical laboratories is based on the combination of the subject/matrix and the test (principle of determination). The expertise of SNAS assessors and experts involved in accreditation services is defined in the same way. The goal is to achieve the compatibility of the database of assessors and accredited laboratory activities, ensuring the correct selection of assessment group members, reducing the administrative burden, as well as speeding up and simplifying the entire assessment process. The result is the attached "activities catalog". Categorization of laboratory activities based on this "catalogue" will help as a basis for the compilation of assessment groups.

SNAS assesses the fulfillment of requirements of the standards ISO/IEC 17025 for testing and calibration laboratories, ISO 15189 for medical laboratories and these standards require that laboratories shall have a system for assurance of quality of test and/or calibration results and medical examination within this system they participate in proficiency testing (external quality assessment) or in other interlaboratory comparisons. Proficiency tests and interlaboratory comparisons are an important tool for monitoring of laboratory performance. SNAS considers the participation of laboratories in the PT and ILC programs as an important part of demonstrating the fulfillment of the accreditation criteria of accredited laboratories. SNAS requires the active participation of laboratories in PT/ILC programs organized in Slovakia or at the international level in accordance with the relevant EA and SNAS regulations. The participation of laboratories in PT and ILC is governed by the SNAS policy for participation in proficiency tests PL-23 and the methodological guideline for determination of the level and frequency of the participation in proficiency testing MSA-L/14. If PT/ILC is not available (practicable), the laboratory must ensure quality control by other adequate procedures (MSA-L/14 and PL23).  Calibration, testing and medical laboratories are obliged to insert the current version of the implementation of the participation strategy in PT /ILC in the completed relevant form TL 71 before each assessment into AIS, in the section Documentation, PT/annual analyses.

Proficiency testing providers accredited SNAS

Link to EPTIS

Aelected competent profeciency testing providers

Ing. Jana Pašková; e-mail: jana.paskova(@)snas.sk; mobil: + 421 910 931 631