Quality Control Flashcards
Is a complete system of creating and following procedures and policies
Quality Assurance (QA)
What is the aim of quality assurance?
To provide the most reliable patient laboratory result
To minimize errors in the pre-analytical, analytical, and postanalytical phases
A system of ensuring accuracy and precision in the laboratory by using quality control materials in every series of measurement
Quality Control (QC)
Testing of patient samples can proceed even without performing QC first. True or false?
False; before you run patient samples, you have to run quality control testing first
Overall process used to ensure that laboratory results meet the requirements for healthcare services to patients
Quality Management (QM)
Quality Management is otherwise known as
TQM (Total Quality Management)
Intervals of acceptable values with upper and lower limits
Control limits
Most commercially prepared QC materials are lyophilized. What does lyophilized means?
They come in powdered or pulverized form
Ideal control limit
± 2SD
Who applied the principles of analyzing QC in the laboratory? When?
Levey & Jennings, 1950s
These are specimens analyzed for QC purposes
Quality Control Materials/ Control Solutions
Control level with concentrations above or below the normal range of the analyte being tested
Level 2 (Abnormal Control)
A sample taken from the total volume of the quality control material
Aliquot
Level of control that contains normal levels for the analyte being tested
Level 1 (Normal Control)
Level of controls commonly used in immunoassays:
Level 1 (Low Control)
Level 2 (Normal Control)
Level 3 (High Control)
What to do if a quality control result shows that one/some values are out of control?
Find the error → take corrective measures → repeat quality control testing = if the control results are within the control limits, you can now proceed testing patient samples
What are the objectives of performing Quality Control?
To check the stability of the machine/analyzers utilized in the Chemistry Laboratory
To check the quality of the reagents
To check technical (operator) errors
The errors we encounter in the laboratory from the pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical phases of testing
Variation/Variables
In the operation of a QC system, is it allowed to accept errors?
Errors are acceptable BUT WITH LIMIT
The standard confidence limit in Clinical Chemistry is set at
± 2SD
If the error repeatedly occurred (even if corrective actions are already made). Reject or Accept?
Reject
If an error occurred, but it was corrected thru corrective actions. Reject or Accept?
Accept
Involves the analyses of control samples and the patient specimen; use for the daily monitoring of accuracy and precision of analytical methods
Intralab Quality Control (Internal QC)
How often should we perform QC within a clinical laboratory?
Daily
In Intralab Quality Control (Internal QC). Quality Control Materials are: Assayed or Unassayed?
Assayed; values are known and given
Involves proficiency testing programs that periodically provide samples of unknown concentrations to participating clinical laboratories
Interlab Quality Control (External QC)
In Interlab Quality Control (External QC). Quality Control Materials are: Assayed or Unassayed
Unassayed; values are known by the National Reference Laboratories but are NOT given to the participating clinical laboratories
Gold standard for clinical laboratory external QC testing
College of American Pathologists (CAP) proficiency program
Transcribe NEQAS
National External Quality Assurance Scheme
Importance of proficiency testing programs for laboratories
Important in maintaining long-term accuracy of analytical methods
To determine state-of-the-art interlaboratory performance
Reference Laboratory for Microbiology and Parasitology
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM)
Reference Laboratory for Immunology and Serology
San Lazaro Hospital / STD AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory (SLH/SACCL)
Reference Laboratory for Hematology and Coagulation
National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI)
Reference Laboratory for Clinical Chemistry
Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP)
Reference Laboratory for Drugs of abuse, Toxicology, Micronutrient Assay, Environmental and Occupational Health
East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC)
These laboratories are mandated to provide laboratory referral services such as confirmatory testing, surveillance and research
Reference Laboratories
Type of laboratory that function to maintain Quality Assurance Programs
Reference Laboratories
The 10 analytes measured/quantified under the NEQAS for CC
- Glucose
- BUN (blood urea nitrogen)
- Creatinine
- Uric Acid
- Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Albumin
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Chloride
During NEQAS, what will happen to laboratories that have submitted results outside the confidence limit?
Possible closure of laboratory
It is the ability of an analytical method to measure only the analyte of interest
Specificity