News
AAPT launch Practical Autopsy Standards for Anatomical Pathology Technologists
The AAPT today publish Practical Autopsy Technical Standards for Anatomical Pathology Technologists guidance
These standards should be read in conjunction with the Standards for Coroner’s pathologists in Post-Mortem Examinations of Deaths that Appear not to be Suspicious (Royal College of Pathologists, 2014), Code B of the HTA Codes of Practice (Human Tissue Authority, 2023) and the associated Standards and Guidance (Human Tissue Authority, 2022), and Managing Infection Risks when Handling the Deceased (Health and Safety Executive, 2018).
Invasive procedures such as evisceration, retrieval of blood or tissue samples and reconstruction, should only be undertaken by Anatomical Pathology Technologists (APTs) qualified to at least RSPH Certificate or Level 3 Diploma level, or by Trainee APTs/Apprentices formally employed on a substantive Trainee APT or Apprenticeship contract (please note, volunteer or honorary contracts do not provide a sufficient level of rigour).
These standards have been designed to be easily incorporated into mortuaries’ standard operating procedures, to ensure consistency of practice.
John Pitchers AAPT Chair on this new guidance:
"As a non-regulated profession with no documented technical standards, there is a need for us to demonstrate how we maintain quality in our technical work and to strive for consistent standards across both NHS and Local Authority establishments.
In the same way that the RCPath autopsy guidelines series of documents underpins Pathologists' autopsy practise, these standards, written by and for APTs, will provide a framework against which mortuaries can benchmark their quality"