The Practical Lab - QA/QC

Question 1

What is important to check on machines to ensure results produced are reliable?

Answer 1

• setup of the system
• maintenace of analysers and system
• interpretation of the results
• checks carrier out to ensure that the values are accetable
• accurate record keeping

Question 2

What are the advatages of in-house labs?

Answer 2

• fast turn around time
• potential for improved monitoring
• smaller volume of sample needed
• available out of hours
• available in more remote areas
• may save costs

Question 3

What factors affect results?

Answer 3

biological and analytical

Question 4

What are the biological factors prior to sampling?

Answer 4

intral-individual and inter-individual

Question 5

What are the inter-individual factors?

Answer 5

inherent differences between groups of animals due to effeects of species, breed, age and/or sex

Question 6

What are haematology examples for species?

Answer 6

cat PCV is lower than dog PCV

Question 7

What are haematology examples for breed?

Answer 7

akitas have a lower mean cell volume than other dogs

Question 8

What haematology examples are there for age?

Answer 8

juvenile dogs have a lower PCV and TP than adult dogs

Question 9

What haematology examples are there for the sex of a patient?

Answer 9

males usually have higher PCV values

Question 10

What are the intra-individual factors?

Answer 10

often due to environmental/external factors such as diet, stress/excitement, reproductive status, drugs, method/site of blood samapling

Question 11

What are the pre-analytical factors?

Answer 11

p- poor blood sampling technique
- haemolysed, lipaemic or icteric plsma
- wrong anticoagulation to blood ratio
- sterile vs non-sterile container
- transportation
- storage

Question 12

How should samples be stored if not being tested immediately?

Answer 12

in the fridge

Question 13

How should you package a sample for postal?

Answer 13

• 50ml limit
• sealed contianer
• leakproof bag
• absorbative padding
• all packaged in rigid container

Question 14

What are the analytical factors?

Answer 14

• equipment - proper function
• technician - correct training
• analytical procedure - validated technique, reagents, colibrations
• laboratoy - temperature, humidity

Question 15

When is quality control performed?

Answer 15

during thw analysis to ensure the validity of the result

Question 16

What should you do if a control failed?

Answer 16

1. check obvious problems - reagent depletion/expiry, mechanical faults, clots
2. use another aliquot (pot) of control materials
3. repeat control

Question 17

If the control contnues to failure, what should you do?

Answer 17

• use a new lot of reagent, recalibrate the equipment if possible and repeat control
• run routine machine/instrument maintenance
• consult manufacturer

Question 18

What post-analytical factors are there?

Answer 18

• transfer of the results to patient record
• archiving results
• storing the specimen