When selecting a testing facility, pay close attention to the quality management system (QMS) that the laboratory utilizes (QMS).
The Quality Management System (QMS) ensures that output will be consistent and suitable at all times. When a laboratory is awarded ISO certification, it shows that the facility has been audited and determined to be in compliance with international standards for health and safety.
Protocols for the handling of samples and regulations for maintaining personal cleanliness are two examples of such norms. Accreditation to ISO 15189 and ISO/IEC 17025 cannot be maintained without first establishing and maintaining quality control of analytical data.
One technique to evaluate the processes that are utilized in a laboratory (EQA) is to take part in a PT program, which is also known as an external quality evaluation (EQA). As a result, PT must be incorporated into each and every QMS.
In the following paragraphs, we will take a more in-depth look at proficiency testing to gain a better understanding of what it is, why it is important, and how it may be used to assist assure accurate results.
It is normal practice to use testing of one’s level of proficiency in order to evaluate the efficacy of laboratory procedures and the personnel who carry them out.
A wide range of agencies, including as Public Health England and LGC Standards, are responsible for the management of PT programs. Each individual physical therapy (PT) program in the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States will have its own unique set of laws and information management systems in place.
Each, on the other hand, will have a central office from which samples may be taken under controlled conditions and with known levels of contamination.
The PT samples are sent off to the connected labs so that the relevant tests can be run on them. After the tests are complete, the results are forwarded to the administrative center so that they can be reviewed.
The information is then compiled and ranked by the government. Each and every collaborating lab is held to the highest standards of confidentiality.
Because of this anonymity, testing facilities are able to analyze patterns in their own performance and evaluate how it stacks up against the performance of other facilities.
The results of the PT could be used by managers in the laboratory to evaluate which members of the team require additional training.
As a direct result of this, the work in the laboratory has become more coordinated as a result. The team is better able to stay focused on following the procedures exactly as outlined when they perform testing on a regular basis.
The PT procedure can be utilized to provide guidance to staff members regarding the potential “risk” areas of testing.
Staff members who have undergone training are better equipped to understand the contribution that they make to the high quality of the results produced in their laboratory.
They will learn to understand the significance of their individual contributions to the overall success of the organization.
The information gleaned by PT can also be utilized by the management of the laboratory to make adjustments to activities that are appropriate. As an illustration, if a laboratory suddenly receives a significant increase in the number of samples, the results may become more inaccurate.
There is a chance that this is merely a hiccup in the system, but it’s also possible that something much more serious is wrong.
If the managers of the laboratory notice a general decline in the product’s quality after multiple rounds of testing, they should use the opportunity to review the relevant policies and look for ways to simplify the relevant procedures.
Potential benefits for participating laboratories include the following:
