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Table 1 Key components of the laboratory quality assurance programme

From: Evaluation of a laboratory quality assurance pilot programme for malaria diagnostics in low-transmission areas of Kenya, 2013

Component

Example

Personnel training and competencies

Microscopy/malaria RDT trainings, proficiency testing

Essential laboratory equipment and utilities

Functional microscopes, electricity, water

Essential laboratory consumables and supplies

Slides, stain, gloves

Reference materials

National laboratory guidelines, bench and job aides

Internal QA/QC practices

SOP for equipment calibration, slide cross-checking

External QA/QC programmes

Stepwise Laboratory Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA)

Standard operating procedures

Specimen collection, slide preparation

Safety practices

Personal protective equipment use, waste disposal

  1. RDT rapid diagnostic test, QA/QC quality assurance/quality control, SOP standard operating procedure