title: Methods for internal quality control in the mycobacteriology laboratory.
abstract: A proposal is given for internal quality control in the mycobacteriology laboratory by continuously monitoring the yields of positive results in microscopy and culture as well as the contamination rates of the culture media. The figures thus obtained can be processed as is customary done in clinical chemistry in order not only to detect deviations, but also to discern whether they are due to chance or whether they indicate a change in the quality of performance. Some examples are given to illustrate the possibilities offered by this control system.
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011786:Quality Control; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media