The QIMR Berghofer flow cytometry facility has recently acquired NATA Accreditation (ISO17025) for immunophenotyping analysis in support of clinical trials and pre-clinical studies. Working under a NATA-accredited framework demonstrates that the data produced by our lab has both integrity and quality, attributes that are increasingly important in the current research and clinical research climates. Over the last 5 years, the core lab has become involved in contract clinical trial research for both local and international clients, performing bespoke immunophenotyping analysis by flow cytometry.
Acquiring NATA accreditation required a coordinated approach from the whole team. The process involved first creating and implementing a quality framework system for the entire scientific services department. ISO17025 requires meticulous record-keeping, equipment monitoring, and assay validation and verification procedures to ensure that data produced is valid and reproducible. The accreditation process therefore included writing SOPs for all instruments and procedures in the facility, demonstrating relevant staff competency and training, verifying and tracking performance of flow cytometry and general scientific instrumentation, validating assays and methods, enrolling in a Quality Assurance Program, and generating a validation methodology and reporting framework.
Having NATA accreditation will demonstrate that work conducted in the flow cytometry facility adheres to a quality framework and the ISO17025 standard, which will benefit both internal users of the core lab, and external clients.