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Research Article| Volume 16, ISSUE 3, P657-675, September 1996

Quality Assurance in the Mycobacteriology Laboratory: Quality Control, Quality Improvement, and Proficiency Testing

  • Gail L. Woods
    Correspondence
    Address reprint requests to: Gail L. Woods, MD, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0740
    Affiliations
    Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
    Search for articles by this author
  • John C. Ridderhof
    Affiliations
    Division of Laboratory Systems Public Health Practice Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
    Search for articles by this author
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-2712(18)30260-9
Quality Assurance in the Mycobacteriology Laboratory: Quality Control, Quality Improvement, and Proficiency Testing
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      The components of quality assurance in the mycobacteriology laboratory—quality control, quality improvement, and proficiency testing—address not only the accuracy of testing but also provide a measure for the laboratory practices that are necessary to diagnose and control tuberculosis in the community effectively. Laboratories should use the recommendations concerning turnaround times as either achievable goals or as a measure of whether the laboratory should be performing mycobacteriology tests. The authors strongly urge laboratories to include their turnaround times for results and the timeliness of reporting those results in their annual quality assurance program.
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      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-2712(18)30260-9

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      © 1996 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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