Changes for ICAVL in 2010 Print this page

Noninvasive vascular laboratories should be aware of the following new developments for the ICAVL, effective in 2010:

Going Digital: Labs Must Submit All Case Studies on CD/DVD

As of January 1, 2010, all case studies submitted to the ICAVL must be in a digital (CD or DVD) format. VHS tapes will no longer be an accepted format for submitting case studies to the ICAVL; these cases must first be transferred to CD or DVD. Due to changing technology, the ICAVL can no longer allow the VHS tape format as many of the ICAVL reviewers no longer have access to the videotape equipment necessary for review of VHS tapes.

More details can be found in the 2009 IAC Newsletter article,
Going Digital, on the IAC website.»

The Move to Online Accreditation

The much anticipated Online Accreditation became available for ICAVL in the fall of 2009, and the feedback received from applicant laboratories over the past six months has been overwhelmingly positive. In making the transition from paper application to online format, vascular laboratories now find applying for accreditation and reaccreditation to be a much smoother, user-friendly application experience.

As of January 1, 2010, the ICAVL has determined that paper applications will no longer be accepted.

Required Conference Call Introduced as New Decision Option

Effective March 1, 2010, the ICAVL established the required conference call, to be implemented as an alternative to the required site visit decision. Laboratories with significant application deficiencies will be required to participate in a mandatory conference call with the ICAVL Technical Manager, in order to discuss the deficiencies identified in the application submission. The Technical Manager will outline the corrections and subsequent documentation required of the lab to ultimately achieve accreditation. The laboratory will be notified, in writing, of the Required Conference Call decision and the areas of concern within their application that will be discussed during the conference call. Participation in the conference call by both the medical and technical directors will be mandatory before the laboratory may proceed with resolution of the identified issues.

More details about the Required Conference Call decision can be found on the ICAVL website.»

Additional Changes in 2010

More changes are now in effect and being implemented for all IAC divisions, such as increased online communications, rolling application deadlines, an update to the Provisional Grant decision, new information regarding random audits and site visits and the move toward paperless submission. For complete details, read the IAC newsletter article Changes in 2010.»

The ICAVL is here to help. Laboratories with questions are encouraged to contact the ICAVL staff by e-mail or by phone at 800-838-2110.