My Pathology labs are going through a regular NATA inspection to make sure we are compliant with the testing rules etc.
At the start up meeting the list of change in personnel is discussed, particularly for heads of unit. For my section it was listed as no change.
One assessor tried, I think, to be rude. She looked at me and said there is no listed change in the Director yet the previous Director was may old male name. But there has been a change (the surname is the same) as you are now Director, please explain. She had a sick smile on her face.
'There has been no change, I have had a sex change - I didn't realise it was a NATA requirement to seek permission for it?'
My senior scientist tries to stuff her fist down her mouth to stop laughing. My quality manger looks shocked, the assessor goes from a rather red colour to a white colour to a - please earth open up and swallow me look. I flutter my eyelashes.
The assessor avoids me like the plague for the rest of the day.
My labs pass inspection without comment.
