Methods Diagnostics

Abstract

Ideally, a laboratory processes every sample successfully and then correctly reports its results. In practice, laboratory supervisors and staff devote much time to examining the causes of failed analyses and attempting to avoid such failures in the future. Such efforts in the laboratory to identify and then prevent or remedy problems are usually not considered as a formal topic. This chapter proposes a systematic approach to investigating the cause of a situation, i.e., diagnosis of laboratory methodologies, to solve the current problem and prevent its recurrence. The laboratory management structure must accommodate response to current problems in terms of staff, time, and budget. It must also take measures to prevent future incidents by instituting and adhering to a quality assurance (QA) program, as discussed in Chapter 11.