The Need for Quality for Better Laboratory Performance, Alexandria University Experience

Abstract

Quality means meeting the pre-determined requirements of the users for a particular service. (1) The quality of laboratory services depends upon many characteristics, such as painless acquisition of a specimen, specimen analysis, correctness of the test result, proper documentation and reporting, quick turn-around time for the test, and reasonable cost. To achieve good laboratory quality; the lab has to establish the following, qualified and experienced staff, calibrated and maintained equipment, standardized methods, adequate checking, and lastly accurate recording and reporting. (2,3) . Total quality management (TQM) means that every variable that could possibly affect the quality of test results has been controlled. (2,4) The traditional framework for TQM in a laboratory emphasizes the establishment of Quality Laboratory Processes (QLP), Quality Control (QC), and Quality Assessment (QA). Also to provide a fully developed framework of a good TQM system, Quality Improvement (QI), and Quality Planning (QP) must be established. (5) The purpose of QA in laboratory practice is the right result, at the right time, at the right specimen from the right patient, with result interpretation based on right reference data, and at the right price.