Indicators and quality specifications for strategic and support processes related to the clinical laboratory: four years' experience.
BACKGROUND
Quality specifications for indicators of the key analytic processes have been defined by international consensus. However, only preliminary specifications for laboratory-related strategic and support processes have been developed. The present study attempts to increase the robustness of the preliminary proposed specifications.


METHODS
Recovering records and incidences occurred over a 4-year follow-up period, for 12 indicators, used in all laboratories from this group regarding strategic and support processes.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained indicate that it is better to establish an interval rather than a fixed value for the majority of indicators. Longer studies are needed to properly assess some quality specifications, and data recording system must be standardized in others. Additional, multicenter studies are needed to establish more robust specifications and determine the state of the art of laboratories in other settings.
Ruiz
Rosa
R
Laboratori Clínic L'Hospitalet, ICS-Metropolitana Sud, Barcelona, Spain. rruizm@ambitcp.catsalut.net
Llopis
Ma Antònia
MA
Biosca
Carme
C
Trujillo
Gloria
G
Llovet
Ma Isabel
MI
Tarrés
Ester
E
Ibarz
Mercè
M
Alsina
Ma Jesus
MJ
Alvarez
Virtudes
V
Busquets
Glòria
G
Doménech
Ma Vicenta
MV
Figueres
Carme
C
Minchinela
Joana
J
Pastor
Rosa Ma
RM
Perich
Carmen
C
Ricós
Carmen
C
Sansalvador
Mireia
M
Simón
Margarita
M
D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care