By Jason Armstrong
The clinical laboratory is an enigma to the uninitiated. While most are aware that many medical decisions are made based on results of laboratory tests,1 many are unaware of the intricate processes involved. Laboratory quality control (QC) is just one of the essential elements of laboratory medicine.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this article, the reader will be able to:
- Discuss the differences between internal and external QC.
- Define the types of controls and their uses in a QC program.
- Discuss the implications of ensuring clinical relevance of QC material.
- Describe the consequences of poor-quality QC material.
Randox Laboratories Ltd. After achieving his degree in
Biochemistry and beginning his career in an R&D
laboratory, he made the switch to pursue his passion in
scientific communications.
Course Includes
- 1 Article
- 1 Test
- Course Certificate
MLO and Northern Illinois University (NIU), DeKalb, IL, are co-sponsors in offering continuing education units (CEUs) for this issue’s CE article. CEUs or contact hours are granted by the College of Health and Human Sciences at Northern Illinois University, which has been approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® program. Continuing education credits awarded for successful completion of this test are acceptable for the ASCP Board of Registry Continuing Competence Recognition Program. Readers who pass the test successfully (scoring 70% or higher) will receive a certificate for 1 contact hour of P.A.C.E.® credit. The fee for this continuing education test is $20. This test was prepared by Amanda Voelker, MPH, MT(ASCP), MLS, Clinical Education Coordinator, School of Health Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Passing scores of 70 percent or higher are eligible for 1 contact hour of P.A.C.E. credit. This test is no longer valid for CEUs after October 2025.
NIU is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E. ® Program.