6 Quality assurance in your workplace
You should now have a better understanding of how QA is implemented in microbiology laboratories, and how essential it is to maintaining quality standards. Before you finish this module there are a couple of final activities to complete, which will help you to think about how this knowledge applies to your workplace.
Activity 10: Assessing and improving quality in your workplace
Part 1: Identify resources and regulatory authorities
Guidelines for establishing and/or running a microbiology laboratory may already have been developed in your country. These would include guidance on the essential components of an effective laboratory QMS such as organisation and management, a comprehensive quality manual, and SOPs.
Take a few minutes to research your country-specific guidelines if these are available. You may find it useful to look at reference laboratories, the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Agriculture’s websites.
- Working towards some form of accreditation can provide a framework for improving quality in the laboratory. Many countries have an institution responsible for laboratory accreditation, for example the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria provides an accreditation service [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] . Take a few minutes to research whether your country has a similar accreditation scheme.
Part 2: Your workplace
- Think about what you have learned in this module and the information you researched in Part 1. Then, on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high), rate your workplace for its effective implementation of:
- QC measures
- QA processes
- a QMS
- Are there aspects of how your workplace is run that could be improved? If so, what suggestions would you make?
Discussion
You may find it helpful to discuss your thoughts with colleagues and/or your laboratory manager.
5.2 Antibiotic susceptibility testing
