The Centre for Clinical Genomics (CCG) successfully accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP).

The Centre for Clinical Genomics (CCG), a provincial specialty laboratory under Lower Mainland Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (LM Labs), has achieved full accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for the fourth time after passing its unannounced biennial on-site inspection. The inspectors visited the laboratory on January 30, 2017 and were very impressed with the lab as a whole, and specifically commented on the dedication of the team to quality assurance. The inspection included examination of the laboratory's records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examined laboratory staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and record, and overall management. CAP accreditation is vital in demonstrating that CCG meets and exceeds clinical quality standards in its next-generation sequencing (NGS) lab and is therefore able to deliver clinical testing with a high impact on patient care.

“Unannounced inspections can be a bit stressful. Glad it went so well.”
- Dr. Malcolm Moore, President, BC Cancer Agency

“Kudos to you and your team. This confirms that the facility can be favourably compared to the best that is out there. You can all feel rightly proud about this outcome.”
- Dr. Dirk van Niekerk, Acting Director, BC Cancer Agency Department of Pathology

The CCG laboratory conducts clinical next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays and was the first lab to be accredited for NGS testing in Canada in February 2011. One assay, the Hereditary Cancer Program Panel, is routinely used by BC Cancer Agency’s Hereditary Cancer Program. This assay detects mutations in the 17 genes most commonly tested when screening for hereditary breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancer syndromes. This panel replaced BRCA1/2 testing in British Columbia in October 2014 and is available to patients across Canada. Additionally, the CCG has developed the Oncopanel to detect mutations in solid tumors in 26 genes and a Myeloid Panel to detect mutations in 42 genes associated with myeloid malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and myelodysplastic syndromes. Both assays have been available to BC patients since July 2016.

About the College of American Pathologists

As the leading organization with more than 18,000 board-certified pathologists, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. The CAP’s Laboratory Improvement Programs, initiated 65 years ago, currently have customers in more than 100 countries, accrediting 7,700 laboratories and providing proficiency testing to 20,000 laboratories worldwide. Find more information about the CAP at cap.org.

Lower Mainland Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is a service of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) responsible for providing public laboratory services throughout the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Hospital-based laboratories in Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health, Providence Health Care and PHSA provide both inpatient and outpatient laboratory services. Our specialty laboratories provide a variety of reference and specialized testing for the Province.