What quality control activity must be conducted each year to assess compliance with CAP protocols?

The requirement for conducting a random selection of 10% of eligible pathology reports each year is essential for ensuring compliance with College of American Pathologists (CAP) protocols. This activity serves as a quality control measure that allows healthcare facilities to systematically evaluate the accuracy and adequacy of their pathology reporting processes.

By reviewing a random sample of pathology reports, institutions can identify trends, discrepancies, or areas where improvement may be needed, thus maintaining a high standard of care. This process not only helps to ensure the reliability of diagnoses but also supports the overall integrity of cancer-related data used for treatment decisions and research.

In contrast, reviewing all pathology reports could be impractical due to the volume of reports generated, while a full audit of cancer registries tends to focus on data management rather than individual report accuracy. A survey of patient satisfaction may provide valuable insights regarding patient experience but does not directly assess the technical quality of pathology reports or compliance with CAP standards. Hence, selecting a representative sample aligns best with the protocols set forth by CAP for quality assurance.