For Mohs, dermatopathology, and histology labs, a CAP or CLIA inspection comes down to two things: are your processes sound, and can you prove your equipment is calibrated, maintained, and safe? The first is your domain. The second is where many labs lose points — and where a little preparation goes a long way.
The equipment-and-documentation checklist
Cryostat & histology bench
- Current preventive-maintenance records for the cryostat and processors.
- Temperature verification documented.
- Decontamination and safety checks on file.
Calibration
- Centrifuges, pipettes, and thermometers calibrated on schedule.
- NIST-traceable certificates available on demand.
- On-instrument labels showing last and next-due dates.
Electrical safety
- Powered equipment safety-tested per NFPA 99, with documentation.
Cold storage
- Refrigerators and freezers monitored, with calibrated probes and a clean record.
The 10-year rule
- Under CLIA, pathology slides are retained for 10 years . Have your storage and retrieval plan documented — surveyors ask.
Survey day shouldn't be a fire drill. If your records are current and organized, it's just another day.
Where labs lose easy points
Almost always: documentation that exists somewhere but can't be produced quickly, a calibration that lapsed, or a piece of equipment that was never electrically safety-tested. None of these are hard to fix — they just need a system that keeps them current.
Make readiness continuous, not last-minute
The labs that breeze through inspections don't cram — they run a continuous program where calibration, PM, electrical safety, and documentation stay current year-round. That's the idea behind inspection readiness , and if you're setting up a new lab , it's far easier to build it in from day one than to retrofit it later.
Not sure where your equipment stands?
Request a free Compliance & Equipment Readiness Assessment — we’ll spot-check your gear and documentation and leave you a short report.