Procedures that monitor performance of instruments, other types of diagnostic systems (ex. immunology/serology test packs), and veterinary team members to assist in identifying reliability of results. 1., 2.
Internal Quality Controls
Quality control processes that are “built into” the instrument, reagent systems, test packs, rotors, cartridges, slides, strips, and other unit devices to evaluate specific functions of the system, but not necessarily the entire system or the veterinary team member performing the analysis. 1.,2.
External Quality Control
Quality control procedures that are performed by veterinary team member, that is not “built into” the instrument or unit device to evaluate the reliability of results. 1., 2.
Quality Control Materials / “Running Controls” / Controls
Materials of known quantity of an analyte used to evaluate the entire process including the veterinary team members, materials and applicable instruments used in the process. Depending on test and analyte, controls may be “true positives”, “true negatives”, high, low or typical analyte levels. These are commercially prepared.1., 2.
In-clinic Quality Control
External and Internal quality control procedures performed in the practice by the practice staff 1.
External Quality Assessment / Proficiency Testing
A program where a sample is run by external laboratories in addition to the practice laboratory, and results compared or where samples are supplied by a proficiency testing organization to be analyzed in the practice laboratory with results compared to the proficiency testing organization’s verified results. It must be recognized that different methods of analysis may influence the values, and there is the “individuality” variable even when using the same methods that may influence the results. 1., 2.
References
1. American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP), ASVCP Guidelines: Quality Assurance for Point‐of‐Care Testing in Veterinary Medicine - Version 1.0 Sections 1-3, Appendix, (May 2013). (Section) Pages: (1) 1-2, (2) 5-8, 29-32 52, (3) 13-15, 18-19 Available at: http://www.asvcp.org/pubs/qas/newQas/PDF/ASVCP%20POCT%20QA%20Guideline%20May%2 02013.FINAL.pdf. Accessed: April 15, 2006
2. Barger AM, MacNeill AL, Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Techniques for Veterinary Technicians, 2015, Wiley-Blackwell, Ames IA, pp 233-243
Suggested Reading:
American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP), Principles of Quality Assurance and Standards for Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 2009. Available at: http://www.asvcp.org/pubs/pdf/ASVCPQualityControlGuidelines.pdf, Accessed: April 15, 2006.
Zajac AM, Conboy GA, Veterinary Clinical Parasitology, 2012, Wiley-Blackwell, Ames, IA