Program
EQAS Programs
Actions of the Program, Benefits gained by medical laboratory through participation in external quality control program, External Quality Control Program, Features of Quality Control Program
Actions of the Program
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Preparation of external quality control samples (External quality control samples) which are checked and free of communicable diseases. Samples include:
- Lyophilized pooled human serum for the routine chemistry tests:Glucose, Creatinine, BUN, Uric Acid, Bilirubin, TG, Cholesterol, GPT, GOT, ALK.
- Preserved whole blood for the routine hematological test: WBC, RBC, Hb, MCV, and Platelets.
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Distribution of samples at a rate of 10-12 per year.
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Displaying reports of each laboratory (each lab enters the results of the analysis online through user name and a password, the center analyses the data statistically)
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The statistical analysis is based on:Consensus mean (X), Standard Deviation (SD), Coefficient of Variation (CV), Deviation Index (DI).
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The program is currently working on increasing the panel of tests and other disciplines in the field of Laboratory Medicine including bacteriology and HbA1c.
External Quality Control Program
The program aims to help medical laboratories to improve the quality of results of laboratory tests and to achieve convergence and harmony to reduce the differences of the results of laboratory tests among the various medical laboratories. In addition to that, it aims to assist medical laboratories to achieve accreditation by the Local and International Accreditation Programs.
Benefits gained by medical laboratory through participation in external quality control program
The participation of medical laboratories in such a program back several benefits, including:
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Identifying problems facing the laboratory and helping in finding appropriate solutions.
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Providing technical advice in the field of quality control for interested participants.
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Raising the efficiency of the participating laboratories through providing access to modern methods of diagnosis and comparison with other laboratories. In addition to assess the efficiency of diagnostic methods and materials laboratory used by the laboratory.
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Increase the confidence in the results of the laboratory and thus gain the confidence of the patient and the doctor at the same time.
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Communicate with other colleagues through scientific seminars and workshops in various fields of medical laboratories with a focus on quality control.
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Identifying the best analytical methods through comparison between laboratories following different methods and abandon the ones with unequivocal results.
Features of Quality Control Program
- Preparation of quality control samples locally at the center using human whole blood and serum samples thus mimicking blood samples that are handled in the laboratory.
- Quality control samples are prepared in a manner that ensures the stability of sample components for a period of not less than one month for whole blood samples, whereas serum samples are stable for almost a year.
- Providing technical support for the participants, including field visit to the participating Lab.
- Confidentiality in dealing with results and reports, where participating laboratories can enter their results or view their EQAS report from the web page of the center using a user name and password for each participant.