The RCPA Quality Assurance Program aims at education and assessment of participants in the two major areas of Histopathology, i.e. diagnostic accuracy and technical expertise. Enrolments are available to all laboratories and individual pathologists. Participants receive 6 surveys per year, each consisting of 5 slides of tissue for diagnosis.
All specimens are to be treated as routine and reported in the usual laboratory format.
Specialised modules in Dermatopathology, Forensic Pathology, Paediatric Pathology and Immunohistochemistry are also available to participants. A technical exercise is included in each survey. These consist of tissue processing, routine and special stains, together with interpretation. These surveys are assessed, marked and then reviewed by a committee of scientists. Laboratories are provided with detailed feedback and general education material.