Quality Indicators for the Total Testing Process.
ISO 15189:2012 requires the use of quality indicators (QIs) to monitor and evaluate all steps of the total testing process, but several difficulties dissuade laboratories from effective and continuous use of QIs in routine practice. An International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine working group addressed this problem and implemented a project to develop a model of QIs to be used in clinical laboratories worldwide to monitor and evaluate all steps of the total testing process, and decrease error rates and improve patient services in laboratory testing. All laboratories are invited, at no cost, to enroll in the project and contribute to harmonized management at the international level.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Padova, via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy. Electronic address: mario.plebani@unipd.it.
Mario
M
Plebani
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Padova, via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
Laura
L
Sciacovelli
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Padova, via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
Ada
A
Aita
D064790:Clinical Laboratory Services / Q000592:standards*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D059021:Laboratory Proficiency Testing / Q000592:standards; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care
Errors in laboratory medicine; External quality assurance program; Extra-analytical phases; Quality indicators; Quality specifications