Quality Control in Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory-A Glance

Quality Control (QC) is a process, designed to ensure reliable test results. It is a part of overall quality management of the laboratory in terms of accuracy, reliability and timeliness of reported test results. Two types of quality control are exercised in clinical biochemistry: Internal quality control and external quality assurance. Internal Quality Control (IQC), are the methods, which are performed every day by the laboratory personnel with the laboratory’s materials and equipment. It checks primarily the precision (repeatability or reproducibility) of the method. External Quality Assurance Service (EQAS) which are performed periodically (i.e. every month, every two months, twice a year) by the laboratory personnel, It checks primarily the accuracy of the laboratory’s analytical methods. Consequences of inaccurate results could be unnecessary treatment, treatment complications, failure to provide the proper treatment, delay in correct diagnosis, additional and unnecessary diagnostic testing leading to result in increased cost, in time and personnel effort and often in poor patient outcomes. By running quality control, a laboratory self-monitors its testing process and substantiate that the results produced are accurate and precise. Quality management system, looking at every aspect of the laboratory from sample collection to result dispatch is very important for achieving good laboratory performance. A QC programme allows the laboratory to differentiate between normal variation and error. This review article outlines indispensable role of quality control in clinical biochemistry laboratory which ensures patient satisfaction, the credibility of laboratory, generate confidence in laboratory results and reduce unnecessary financial burden.