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When assigned the task of completing the laboratory’s accreditation application, staff members often ask the question, “Where do I begin?” The answer to this question is as close as your telephone or Internet connection.

The Best Sources of Information

Many of your questions can be easily answered by accessing the ICACTL website at www.icactl.org. Here you will find all the essential pieces necessary for beginning and completing the application. If, however, after visiting the site you find there are still questions that need clarification, the ICACTL staff is happy to assist you and can be contacted either by telephone at 800-838-2110, or via email from the staff directory located on the website at www.icactl.org/icactl/contact/staff.htm.

Where To Begin

Once you have familiarized yourself with the ICACTL website, there are a few essential steps to be followed:

1. Download and review The ICACTL Standards. The Standards are the basis of the accreditation program and outline the requirements necessary for laboratories to achieve accreditation.
2. Once you have reviewed the Standards and are confident that your facility qualifies to apply, the next step is to access the Online Accreditation application. This is done via the website under the Online Accreditation section, located in the right margin of the home page. Existing applicants will select Access Your Account, while new applicants will select Create New Account.

Accessing The Application

The application is broken down into two parts: the Main Profile section, and the Application Questionnaire. In order to access the application, additional steps must be completed:

1. After all questions in the Main Profile have been answered, you will be asked to submit payment information, which will provide access to the application. Payment may be made by credit card or check.
2. Once payment has been received and verified, your laboratory will be sent a personalized user ID and password via email. The user ID and password will allow you to access your account.
3. Return to the website to access your account, and type in your user ID and password.
4. You will be prompted to change the password. Once your password is recognized, you are now able to access the Main Profile page and make selections from the links shown horizontally at the top: Main, Welcome, Applications, Manage Users, and Manage Staff.
5. To access the Application Questionnaire, simply click on the Applications link. If the Main Profile has not been completed, a prompt will open asking for this information.
6. At this time it is possible to obtain the application information, as illustrated below, and continue to the complete Application Questionnaire.

Navigating And Completing The Application

The application can be accessed at any time from any computer that has Internet access. The tips below will assist in the completion of your laboratory data.

1. PLEASE READ THE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS. It is important to read through the directions before beginning the application. This will save time and avoid confusion as you proceed through the pages.
2. Answer all of the questions. The online system will not allow the application to be submitted if there are unanswered questions.
3. Navigate using the Previous and Next tabs at the bottom of the page; using the Back button on your browser’s toolbar may freeze the screen and result in a loss of data.
4. The navigation tree on the left side of the page is a table of contents or a display of the categories that must be completed. This useful tool utilizes icons to identify complete and incomplete application areas. A green check mark indicates that a category is complete. yellow hazard/exclamation tracks the areas containing unanswered questions.
5. It is recommended to work through the navigation as prompted, completing each section before moving to the next.
6. Remember to save your work often to avoid any loss of data.

For Medical and Technical Directors listed, remember to check the ‘Use as director’ box, as illustrated below.

Questions and Answers

Users new to the online system often encounter many of the same stumbling blocks. These tips may help you avoid some of the common delays in progressing through the application.

Q) Why can’t I navigate to the next section?
A) All the questions on the page are not answered. For example, when listing a Medical Director or Technical Director as laboratory personnel, the user must check the box Use as director (see box above). If left empty, the application will not allow the user to proceed to the next section.

Q) A question in the application does not apply to my laboratory, but does not provide the option of “N/A”. What should I do?
A) Some questions in the application are being addressed further and will be revised in our next quarterly upgrade. At this time, however, simply answer the question “no” and provide an explanation if a text box appears. If a text box does not appear, please provide an explanation in the Additional Clinical Information section located at the end of the application.

Q) I have already been through the ICANL application process. How can my lab apply for ICACTL accreditation?
A) The user name and password that was used to access the ICANL information will be the same to access the main profile page and then the ICACTL application. It is important that the administrator listed for any IAC application submissions provide the log-in information to any other users in the laboratory. For confidentiality reasons, the IAC and its divisions do not have access to this password.

Q) How do I submit the documentation requested?
A) Instructions for attaching support documents are included in the Applications Area and may be accomplished in one of the following ways:

• scan documents and/or attach files in one of the accepted file formats (see next page)
• ship two copies of paper documents and/or case studies; or
• a combination of these two options

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