QC principles are reviewed to illustrate
how the natural variation of a process provides the basis for
monitoring routine performance using statistical quality control
and graphical control charts.ABSTRACT
QC principles are reviewed to illustrate
how the natural variation of a process provides the basis for
monitoring routine performance using statistical quality control
and graphical control charts.
QC practices are described with emphasis on defining control rules and illustrating the application of a "multirule" QC procedure that is commonly known as "Westgard Rules."
QC planning is introduced to provide a practical process for selecting the control rules and numbers of control measurements that are needed to assure the desired quality is achieved for the test of interest and the method being utilized by the laboratory. Particular attention is given to the use of a chart of operating specifications, or OPSpecs chart, as a practical tool for selecting appropriate QC procedures. This QC planning tool can be prepared by the QC Validator computer program, or is available in "normalized" form on the Internet.
Detailed educational materials can be found at the following
Internet addresses:
