Following the BBC Panorama’s undercover investigation into a COVID-19 lighthouse laboratory, the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) reiterates the need for more HCPC registered staff and UKAS accreditation in these laboratories

From the outset of the pandemic, the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) has emphasised the fact that “high quality staff deliver high quality services” and that the UK’s established diagnostic testing facilities (i.e. pathology laboratories in the NHS and private healthcare sector) have some of the highest quality and safest testing programmes in the world, ensuring the right result for the right patient at the right time.

We support the Government strategy to control the virus by increasing testing numbers and by implementing the test, track and trace programme. However, it is essential that the provision of a high quality and safe testing service is at the centre of the national testing strategy. Pressure for increased quantity must not lead to a reduction in the quality of our established diagnostic testing processes.

The lighthouse laboratories were set up to deal with large quantities of PCR tests and the scale of their reach and their goals is admirable. However, creating an industrial testing stream at pace can lead to staffing and safety issues if not carefully monitored and resourced. The IBMS expects that any workforce undertaking diagnostic testing for COVID-19 should meet the same minimum requirements as any other medical laboratory workforce that is involved in diagnostic testing.

The UK’s high professional standards and robust quality management systems have been achieved through Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration training and UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) accreditation (i.e. ISO15189:2012). The IBMS proposes that the lighthouse laboratories consider recruiting additional HCPC registered biomedical scientists to supervise staff, increasing the focus on quality control and assurance, and attain UKAS accreditation to assure safe practice. This would ensure testing that is fit for purpose, robust and focused on the patient.

The ratio of registered scientists and non-registered support should be assessed in each individual situation; it will vary with the level of automation available and the stability of the assay and workflow, but should provide sufficient numbers of registered scientists that any supervision is real and not "nominal”. The IBMS would expect that the supervising HCPC registered scientist is only responsible for a number of unregistered staff that allows them to safely provide adequate supervision.
 
To successfully deal with COVID-19 or any future pandemic, the UK needs to pool the experience of the existing diagnostic pathology laboratories with the lighthouse laboratories running at industrial scales to provide a testing system that utilises the highly skilled, HCPC registered staff and UKAS accredited processes available, and is ready to provide a rapid response to limit transmission.

About Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS)

With over 19,000 members in 73 countries, the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) is the leading professional body for scientists, support staff and students in the field of biomedical science.

For over 100 years we have been dedicated to the promotion, development and delivery of excellence in biomedical science within all aspects of healthcare, and to providing the highest standards of service to patients and the public.

By supporting our members in their practice we set quality standards for the profession through: training, education, assessments, examinations and continuous professional development. We offer research grants to members to advance biomedical science, supporting their original research into scientific developments.

Our publications and training events ensure our members are kept up to date on the latest scientific developments and news.

Through public relations and marketing campaigns, we raise awareness of the vital role biomedical science plays in healthcare and promote career opportunities in the profession.

Learn more about the IBMS