Lesson 7: How can you do QC planning? In Tools and Technology for QC Planning, Dr. Westgard describes how to make QC planning practical using graphical tools, such as power function graphs, critical-error graphs, and OPSpecs charts. The QC Validator computer program is introduced as an example of the kind of technology needed to provide these graphical tools. An educational version of the program (QC Validator 2E) can be downloaded to provide these tools for the duration of this course. A demo of the program can be downloaded from the website and viewed to provide an example of automated QC selection. Detailed tutorials are also available via download from the website. FAQs about QC Validator provides additional discussion of the use and application of this computer program.

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Objectives: Identify the tools and technology that are available to support QC planning in your laboratory.  Learn to download a computer program and tutorial software from the web.  Use those tutorials to learn to operate the QC Validator computer program.  Be able to prepare OPSpecs charts for any analytical or clinical quality requirement.  Web materials: Essay: Tools and Technology for QC Planning  QC Application: Cholesterol with a clinical quality requirement  QC Validator 2E download  QC Validator demo and tutorial downloads  FAQs about QC Validator  Things to do: Study the materials.  Download the QC Validator program and install on your computer.  Download the QC Validator Demo and Tutorials and install on your computer.  Run the QC Validator Demo to get an overview of the program.  Run the QC Validator Tutorial A to learn about manual operation of the program.  Learn to operate the QC Validator program.  Enter parameters for the cholesterol example applications from the previous lesson (analytical quality requirement) and from this lesson (clinical quality requirement).  Enter the parameters for the cholesterol method in your laboratory and assess the appropriate QC design.  Assessment: View the Answers What are three graphical tools that can be used for QC planning?  Do you have the QC Validator program and tutorials set up on your computer?  Can you enter the necessary input parameters to assess QC performance?  Can you display power function graphs?  Can you display critical-error graphs?  Can you display OPSpecs charts?  What QC design is appropriate for the cholesterol method in your laboratory?  What Total QC strategy is appropriate for your cholesterol method?  Return to the top  View the Participant Q & A

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