CLSI Publishes New Quality Management Document QMS12— Developing and Using Quality Indicators for Laboratory Improvement  

Wayne, Pennsylvania, USA—The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute has published QMS12—Developing and Using Quality Indicators for Laboratory Improvement. QMS12 describes how to develop and use quality indicators in the medical laboratory. These indicators include measures developed within a single laboratory for local use, as well as indicators developed or required by regulatory and accreditation organizations. This guideline also provides criteria for developing quantitative and qualitative indicators. The process flow, concepts, and indicator development form presented in this guideline can also be used to create indicators to measure the effectiveness of the laboratory’s quality management system processes.

Karen Walsh, MS, MT(ASCP), CPHQ, CLSSMBB, FACHE, chairholder of QMS12 said, “Quality indicators provide appropriate, measurable, interpretable information about laboratory processes and outputs. This information can be used to make decisions about laboratory quality and opportunities for improvement. Properly designed quality indicators stimulate continual improvement and avoid producing confusing and misleading information that could lead to increased work and poor decision making.”

QMS12 is intended for use by laboratory directors, managers, supervisors, and quality managers to ensure laboratories implement an effective approach to selecting, developing, interpreting, and using information derived from well-designed quality indicators.

 For more information about QMS12, contact Patrick McGinn at pmcginn@clsi.org or +1.484.588.5933.    

   

 CLSI sets the standard for quality in medical laboratory testing. A not-for-profit membership organization, CLSI brings together the global laboratory community for the advancement of a common cause: to foster excellence in laboratory medicine.    

For nearly 50 years, our members, volunteers, and customers have made CLSI a respected, transformative leader in the development and implementation of medical laboratory testing standards. Through our unified efforts, we will continue to set and uphold the standards that drive quality test results, enhance patient care delivery, and improve health care around the world.    

By using CLSI standards, laboratorians can improve process quality, speed the development of standard operating procedures, and implement safer practices with greater ease and efficiency.