Basics of quality assurance for intermediate and peripheral laboratories

Abstract

Explains how the principles of quality assurance can be applied to health laboratory services in order to ensure consistently high quality performance and reliable test results. Noting that reliability depends on far more than the correct performance of tests, the book offers comprehensive information on the full range of factors that can cause errors at the pre-analytical, and post-analytical stages. Laboratory managers and technologists receives detailed advice on methods for determining the clinical usefulness of specific tests, correct procedures for patient preparation, sampling, handling, preservation, storage, transport, identification, and data processing. The manual has seven chapters. The first covers quality control at the pre-analytical stage. The second and most extensive chapters serves as a step-by-step guide to the correct performance of over 60 specific analytical tests and quality control procedures in the areas of clinical chemistry, haematology, clinical microbiology, serology, and medical parasitology. Procedures and tests are suitable for peripheral laboratories and for district laboratories with limited technical and economic resources. While noting that all methods have limitations, the chapter emphasizes the ways in which adherence to certain practical rules can reduce errors in routine daily work. Other chapters outline the correct procedures for data handling and data processing, explain the safe use and routine maintanance of laboratory equipment, and outline the essential safety precautions needed to protect the staff from physical and chemical hazards. A brief over view of external quality assurance programmes concludes the text