Quality Control and Assurance Training for Laboratory Managers

Quality Control and Assurance Training for Laboratory Managers

FineResults Research Services would like to invite you to take part in our upcoming workshops at our FineResults Research Services training facilities in Nairobi, Kenya or online.

24th to 28th July 2023     Quality Control and Assurance Training for Laboratory Managers

23rd to 27th October 2023    Quality Control and Assurance Training for Laboratory Managers

Introduction

Achieving, maintaining and improving accuracy, timeliness, and reliability are major challenges for most laboratories. Only a sound management of quality in laboratories will enable organizations to produce test results that can be trusted. Training laboratory managers and Technologists in quality management systems is key in good performance of laboratories. This training is intended to provide comprehensive skills that will allow for designing and organizing quality control and assurance measures in laboratories. Materials and topics to be covered in this training workshop are based on both ISO/IEC standards.

Duration

10 Days

Learning outcomes

By the end of the training, participants should be able to:

• Explain the importance of a quality management system
• Describe the steps required to implement an inventory control program
• Define quality control and describe its relationship to the overall quality management
• system
• Develop a process to prepare your laboratory staff for an external audit
• Describe the process involved in development of standards
• Discuss the need for laboratory norms and standards
• Describe the role of personnel in the quality management system
• Suggest solutions for customer service problems
• Describe the importance of process improvement in maintaining quality
• Explain the elements of a laboratory document management system
• Discuss management roles and responsibilities in a quality system

TOPICS TO BE COVERED

Introduction

•  Importance of a quality management system
• Quality management system essential elements
• The history of development of quality principles
• Relationship between quality management system model to ISO standards

Facilities and Safety

• How facility design impacts the efficiency and safety of laboratory workers
• Essential practices to prevent or reduce risks
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) that should be used routinely by laboratory workers
• General safety requirements for the laboratory
• Steps to be taken in response to emergencies such as biological or chemical spills, or laboratory fires

Equipment

• Key considerations prior to purchasing laboratory equipment
• How to manage the selection and acquisition of new equipment
• Requirements for a preventive maintenance program for equipment
• Importance of developing a preventive maintenance program in a laboratory
• How to retire old or outdated equipment

Purchasing and Inventory

• Steps required to implement an inventory control program
• Factors to consider in procurement of supplies
• Developing a monitoring plan for the inventory system
• Importance of documentation related to purchasing and inventory

Process control

Sample Management

• Common sample collection errors that could lead to incorrect laboratory examination results
• Key contents that should be included in a handbook designed for people who collect
• samples off-site
• Rationale for rejecting unsatisfactory samples
• Sample handling system, including collection, transport, storage, and disposal
•  Importance of maintaining sample integrity and assuring that all regulations and requirements are met when transporting samples

Introduction to Quality Control

• Definition of quality control and describe
• Relationship between quality control and overall quality management system
• Differences in quantitative, semi-quantitative, and qualitative examinations

Quality Control for Quantitative Tests

• Difference between accuracy and precision
• Selecting control material for specific examination method
• Establishing acceptable control limits for a method when only one level of control material is available
• Use of Levey-Jennings chart
• Examples of rule violations using Westgard Multirule System
• How to correct “out of control” problems

Quality Control for Qualitative Tests

• Difference between built-in and traditional controls
• How to use stock cultures for microbiology QC
• Use of quality control procedures for stains used in microscopic examination
• Methods for verifying performance of microbiological media

Assessment: Audits

• Preparing laboratory staff for an external audit
• Planning and managing an internal audit
• How to use results from a laboratory audit
• Importance of taking corrective actions

External Quality Assessment (EQA)

• Importance of an EQA program in improving the quality of laboratory test results
• Different EQA methods and the advantages and disadvantages of each
• How to investigate an unacceptable test result from an EQA sample

Norms and Accreditation

• Comparing and contrasting accreditation, certification and licensure
• Process involved in development of standards
• Importance of laboratory norms and standards

Personnel

• Role of personnel in the quality management system
• Developing a plan to verify employee competency
• Steps involved in assessing and maintaining employee competency
• Process of maintaining personnel records

Customer Service

• Examples of laboratory customer groups
•  Measuring customer satisfaction
• Common problems that may develop with customers
• Suggested solutions for customer service problems
•  How quality management processes help the laboratory meet customer group needs and requirements

Occurrence Management

• Definition of the term “occurrence”
• Essential quality monitoring tools
• Preventive action, remedial action, and corrective action
• Relationships between preventive action and risk management practices
• Root cause analysis

Process Improvement

• Historical perspective of process improvement
• Importance of process improvement in maintaining quality
• Importance of tools in monitoring laboratory processes

Documents and Records

• Difference between documents and records
• Hierarchy of documents and the role of each level
• Content that should be included in a standard operating procedure
• Elements of a laboratory document management system
• Key contents of a quality manual
• Methods and tools to properly store documents and records

Information Management

• Important elements of an information management system
• Key considerations when developing a manual, paper-based information system
• Advantages and disadvantages of a computerized information management system

Organization

• Organizational elements needed for a quality management system
• Management roles and responsibilities in a quality system
• Designing, implementing, maintaining, and improving the laboratory quality system
• Purpose of a quality manual

REQUIREMENTS

Participants should be reasonably proficient in English.  During the trainings, participants should come with their own laptops.

Payment should be transferred to FineResults Research Services bank account one week prior to the training date and proof of payment sent to the email.

For any registration of 3 or more participants; we offer a discount of up to 10%.

This course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, lunch, and study visits for in-person training.

 ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is arranged upon request. For reservations contact us through Mobile or Email.

PAYMENT

Payment should be transferred to FineResults Research Limited bank before commencement of training. Send proof of payment through the email. 

CANCELLATION POLICY

• All requests for cancellations must be received in writing
• Changes will become effective on the date of written confirmation being received