IDENTIFY IF: PRE-ANALYTICAL, ANALYTICAL OR POST-ANALYTICAL

Patient identification

Proper preparation of patient

Specimen collection, separation & processing

Choice of analytical methodology

Calibration procedures

Proper documentation of analytical variables

Proper labeling & use of reagents

Preventive maintenance of analytical instruments

Periodic calibration of pipetting devices

Periodic checking of °T of refrigerator & heating units

Periodic checking of procedure manuals

Monitoring of technical competence

Inventory of control materials

Control assurance that safety measures are operational

Verification of calculations of the final results

Check test results for possible transcription errors

Results should be easy to read & interpret

Timeliness of reporting values to patient chart

Procedures for informing physicians about results that require immediate attention