Quality Assurance

11.1 Quality Control

Analytical performance must be monitored by using quality control procedures appropriate to the type and frequency of the testing undertaken.
The range of quality control activities available to laboratories includes the use of:

• Reference collections

• Certified reference materials

• Internally generated reference materials

• Independent checks by other analysts/examiners

• Statistical tables

• Positive and negative controls

• Control charts

• Replicate testing

• Alternative methods

• Spiked samples, standard additions and internal standards 

Depending on the particular test/examination, one or more of these examples may be appropriate. Quality control procedures must be documented. A record must be retained to show that appropriate quality control measures have been taken, that quality control results are acceptable or, if not, that remedial action has been taken. Where appropriate, quality control data must be recorded in such a way that trends in analysis can be readily evaluated.