1. Quality Assurance in the clinical laboratory
Lecture 1

2. Definition
Quality assurance is the coordinate process of providing the best possible service to the patient and physician
Quality assurance includes monitoring and controlling:
the competence of personnel,
quality of materials,
methods, reagents and instruments,
and the reliable reporting of test results

3. WHO Definition Quality assurance has been defined by WHO as:
The total process whereby the quality of the laboratory reports can be guaranteed.
It has been summarized as the:
Right result, at the
Right time, on the
Right specimen, from the
Right patient,
With the result interpretation based on,
Correct reference data,
and at the Right price.

4. Sources of Error
Erroneous results are at best a nuisance; at worst, they have potential for causing considerable harm
Errors can be minimized by:
careful adherence to robust, agreed protocols at every stage of the testing process
this means a lot more than ensuring that the analysis is performed correctly.
Errors can occur at various stages in the process:
pre-analytical, occurring outside the laboratory,
analytical, occurring within the laboratory,
post-analytical, whereby a correct result is generated but is incorrectly recorded in the patient's record,

6. Aspects of a Good Quality Assurance Program
A good quality assurance program has three major aspects:
Preventive activities
Assessment Procedures
Corrective actions

7. Preventive Activities
Prevent errors
Improve accuracy and precision
They involve the following activities:
Method selection
Careful laboratory design
Hiring of competent personnel
Development of comprehensive procedure manuals
Effective preventive maintenance programs

8. Assessment Procedures
Monitor the analytical process
Determine the type of error
Determine the amount of error
Determine the change in accuracy and precision
These activities include:
The testing of quality control material
Performing instrument function checks
Participating in proficiency testing programs
(e.g. programs of accrediting agencies)

9. Corrective Actions Correct errors after discovery
Communication with the users of laboratory's services
Review of work
Troubleshooting of instrument problems

10. Quality Assurance versus Quality Control
Quality control involves the use of control samples to monitor the precision and accuracy of a test procedure
Control sample is processed along with the patient samples and the results are compared
Quality control is an important part of quality assurance program

11. Accuracy Accuracy is the measure of "truth" of a result
Accurate results reflect the "true" or correct measure of an analyte or identification of a substance

12. Precision
Precision is the expression of the variability of analysis, reproducibility of a results, or an indication of the amount of random error
Precision is completely independent of accuracy or truth
A procedure can be precise, as determined by repeat analysis, but the result can be inaccurate
Three terms are widely used to describe the precision of a set of replicate data:
standard deviation;
variance;
coefficient of variation

13. Good Accuracy Good Precision
Accuracy and Precision
Neither
Good precision
Nor Accuracy
Good Accuracy Good Precision
Good Precision Only

14. When Errors Occur ?
Errors occur when there is a loss of accuracy and precision
A primary goal of quality assurance is to reduce and detect errors or to obtain the best possible accuracy and precision

15. Types of Errors
Mistakes jeopardize patient care and must be detected and avoided at all times
They are two types of errors:
random errors
systematic errors

16. Random Errors Occur without prediction or regularity
Affect precision of measurement and causes data to be scattered more
Random errors occur as the result of:
Carelessness,
when taking short cuts in procedures,
Mislabeling specimens,
Incorrect filing of reports,
Reporting of wrong result to the wrong patient

17. Systematic Errors Errors within the test system or methodology
Affect the accuracy of results
Causes the mean of a data set to differ from the accepted value
Examples include:
Incorrect instrument calibration
Unprecise or malfunctioning dilutors and pipettes
Reagents that lost their activity

18. Systematic Errors Types of systematic errors
proportional systematic error or bias
It grows larger as the concentration of analyte grows
constant systematic error "constant bias"
A constant amount over the entire range of the analysis process.

19. Types of Errors
The dashed line represents ideal method performance where the test method and the comparative method give exactly the same results.
The bottom line shows the effect of a proportional systematic error, where the magnitude of the error increases as the test result gets higher.
The top line shows the effect of a constant systematic error, where the whole line is shifted up and all results are high by the same amount.
Note that these results will also be subject to the random error of the method, therefore the actual data points would scatter about the line as illustrated in the figure. The range of this scatter above and below the line provides some idea of the amount of random error that is present.

20. Detecting Systematic Errors
Analyzing standard samples
The best way to estimate the bias of an analytical method is by analyzing standard reference materials, materials that contain one or more analytes at well-known or certified concentration levels
Using an independent analytical method
The independent method should differ as much as possible from the one under study to minimize the possibility that some common factor in the sample has the same effect on both methods
Performing blank determinations
Varying the Sample Size
As the size of a measurement increases, the effect of a constant error decreases. Thus, constant errors can often be detected by varying the sample size.

21. Benefits of an Effective quality Assurance Program
Correct and timely presentation of data to the physician
Improvement of precision and accuracy
Early detection of mistakes
More efficient and cost effective use of materials and personnel
Meeting the requirements of inspection and accreditation agencies
Development of accurate and concise procedures and manuals
Measure of productivity of personnel and instrumentation.

22. Personnel, Staff Development & Quality Assurance
The most expensive and complex resource in any organization is its' employees
Choosing the appropriate individuals for the job and managing them effectively is one of the most difficult and powerful means available to prevent errors in the laboratory

23. Tiers of Responsibility

24. Quality Assurance System: Personnel Management
Intralaboratory communication
Orientation and training
Personnel manual
Personnel files
Workload recording