RESUMO
The External Quality Control Program of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology includes controls for bacteriology, serology, mycology, parasitology, mycobacteria, virology and molecular microbiology. This article presents the most important conclusions and lessons of the 2010 controls. As a whole, the results obtained in 2010 confirm the excellent skill and good technical standards found in previous years. However, erroneous results can be obtained in any laboratory and in clinically relevant determinations. The results of this program highlight the need to implement both internal and external controls to ensure maximal quality of microbiological tests(1).
Assuntos
Infectologia/normas , Laboratórios/normas , Ensaio de Proficiência Laboratorial , Microbiologia/normas , Parasitologia/normas , Testes Sorológicos/normas , Sociedades Científicas/normas , Virologia/normas , Anticorpos Antibacterianos/sangue , Anticorpos Antifúngicos/sangue , Anticorpos Anti-Helmínticos/sangue , Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Garantia da Qualidade dos Cuidados de Saúde , Padrões de Referência , Espanha , Sorodiagnóstico da Sífilis/normas , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The quality standard "UNE-EN-ISO 17043: 2010. Conformity assessment. General requirements for proficiency testing" applies to centers that organize intercomparisons in all areas. In the case of clinical microbiology laboratories, these intercomparisons must meet the management and technical standards required to achieve maximum quality in the performance of microbiological analysis and the preparation of test items (sample, product, data or other information used in the proficiency test) to enable them to be accredited. Once accredited, these laboratories can operate as a tool for quality control laboratories and competency assessment. In Spain, accreditation is granted by the Spanish Accreditation Body [Entidad Nacional de Acreditación (ENAC)]. The objective of this review is to explain how to apply the requirements of the standard to laboratories providing intercomparisons in the field of clinical microbiology (the organization responsible for all the tasks related to the development and operation of a proficiency testing program). This requires defining the scope and specifying the technical requirements (personnel management, control of equipment, facilities and environment, the design of the proficiency testing and data analysis for performance evaluation, communication with participants and confidentiality) and management requirements (document control, purchasing control, monitoring of complaints / claims, non-compliance, internal audits and management reviews).
