Quality Assurance

Quality assurance (QA) may be defined as 'all the planned and systematic activities put in place to ensure quality requirements for a product or service will be fulfilled'. QA provides confidence that the requirements of a product or service will be met. In a laboratory setting, QA encompasses all the processes whereby the quality of laboratory results and the subsequent laboratory reports can be guaranteed.  Those processes may include monitoring raw materials and supplies, controlling sample collection, transport, storage and processing, instrument calibration, record keeping,  proficiency testing (external quality assessment) and training of all personnel.  It is important to note that quality assurance is not limited to the technical procedures performed in the laboratory but includes all the pre and post examination activities.