THE QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA) PROGRAM

The  Quality Assurance Program is designed to monitor all aspects of laboratory services provided by personnel including physicians, nursing staff and medical assistants involved in providing HIV testing to ensure that problems related to these services are identified and addressed. The monitoring system is designed to be compatible with the standards of the College of American Pathologists, the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services Clinical Laboratory Improvement Service, and CLIA 88.

The offerings that constitute this service may change from time to time to meet the changing needs of the operating environment. The Quality Assurance program consists of three elements which collectively insure an organizational commitment to continuously improve quality. 

Elements of the QA Program 

1.       Participation in Interlaboratory comparison programs:

·         CAP Proficiency testing

·         NJ DOH - Proficiency Testing Program

·         AAB - American Association of Bioanalysts 

2.       Laboratory quality control program consists of actions and procedures design to identify and address issues related to the quality of the laboratory offerings.

·         Periodic Meetings of the NJHIV oversight committee.

Purpose:
            Review of ongoing technical problems and their resolution
            Review problem cases
                        Review of proficiency testing performance
                        Review of 'discordant results'
                        Review of customer service issues                    

·         Daily procedures, including: 

Generation of mandated QC
Generation of daily patient reports in a consistent, retrievable manner

Provide for the review of QC data and the proper release of patient results

Provide a mechanism for the review of inconsistent findings by the laboratory subdirector and/or the Bioanalytical Laboratory Director. 

3.       Quality Assurance Indicator Program

A more complete description of the quality assurance program will be found in the QA procedure located in the NJ HIV procedure manual.

The minutes of the biannual QA indicator program will be available on this website.

4.  Formal Education and Competency Assessment Program