The control of quality assumes a set of procedures elaborated and applied by the staff of the Laboratory of medical analyses for the continuous evaluation of the activity and for granting the quality of the results obtained, namely a correct reflection of patients’ health condition. Management of quality should consider the general and specific standards of quality and competence established by SR EN ISO 15189:2013 for the Laboratories of medical analyses. The risk of error exists in any medical action, the microbiological diagnosis included. Organization of the internal control of quality is the responsibility of the chief of the Laboratory of medical analyses, while its legal representative has the obligation to assure the resources necessary in this respect. The internal control of quality is performed on a regular basis and whenever necessary. The results of the the internal control are analyzed by the specialist in charge with it, who decides the acceptance or rejection of the obtained results. The laboratory of medical analyses should periodically participate to programs of external evaluation of quality. The (internal and external) control of quality contributes to reducing the number of erroneous microbiological results.
Keywords:- external quality control
- internal quality control
- laboratory of medical analyses
- management of quality
- reference strains.