Tools, Technologies and Training for Healthcare Laboratories

Basic QC Practices 4th Edition

 Westgard QC is proud to announce the new 4th edition of our most popular textbook, Basic QC Practices.

Basic Quality Control Practices, 4th Edition

Training in Statistical Quality Control for Medical Laboratories

Basic QC Practices, 4th Edition334 pages, 9" by 6" paperback
ISBN 1-886958-30-0
ISBN-13 978-1-886958-30-2
List price: $80.00

Download the Preface, Table of Contents, Index and Chapter Excerpts (more than 50 pages!) of this book.

Order the book now online.
***(Order online with BACKTOBASICS and save $15!, Offer Expires October 31st, 2023)

BASIC QUALITY CONTROL: REVISED AND UPDATED!

  • THE BEST EXPLANATION OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF QC, LEVEY-JENNINGS CHARTS, and "WESTGARD RULES"
  • OVER 100 CHARTS, GRAPHS, TABLES and ILLUSTRATIONS!
  • THE DEFINITIVE BOOK ON LABORATORY QUALITY FOR MORE THAN A DECADE
  • NOW INCLUDES THE "WESTGARD SIGMA RULES" - CONNECTING RULES TO YOUR PERFORMANCE
  • NOW INCLUDES QC FREQUENCY GUIDELINES - HOW OFTEN DO YOU REALLY NEED TO RUN CONTROLS
  • IQCP ADVICE

Thousands of laboratory professionals have made the Basic QC Practices their standard reference on laboratory quality control.

In the fourth edition, Dr. James O. Westgard and colleagues have updated their coverage:

  • Updated discussion of IQCP requirements
  • New explanations about practical ways to determine QC frequency
  • Comprehensive treatment of the Total Testing Process, including Pre-Analytical Quality and Post-Analytical Quality
  • Exclusive access to online content that supplements and tests your knowledge of the material

Now more than ever, Basic QC Practices is the gold standard for learning Quality Control: a concise and comprehensive introduction to the backbone of the laboratory -- statistical quality control. For healthcare pratictioners who want to implement and operate valid QC procedures, this manual is an essential reference.


Praise for the First Edition

"This extremely readable book delivers what it promises, and more…It is a refreshing blend of theory and practical advice that is useful for teaching, for review, and for everyday laboratory operations."
Robert L. Murray, Clinical Chemistry

"It is an ideal reference for those who want to implement and operate valid QC procedures in central laboratories or point of care testing settings… I enjoyed working through the book and visiting the Internet references. Books on quality control can be boring, this is not one such book."
Les Watkinson, PhD, Clinical Biochemist Newsletter


Table of Contents

CHAPTER PAGE
1. Managing Analytical Quality 1
2. Understanding Statistical Quality Control 15
3. Preparing a Control Chart 25
4. Interpreting QC with the "Westgard Rules" 45
5. Interpreting Multilevel QC Results 59
6. Solving Out-of-Control Problems 77
7. Documenting QC Results and Corrective Actions 89
8. Doing the Right QC Right 95
9. Selecting the Right Control Materials
103
10. Performing the Right Calculations 117
11. Selecting the Right QC Procedure
135
12. Determining the Right Frequency of Controls 153
13. Assuring Quality for the Total Testing Process 161
14. Complying with CLIA QC Regulations 171
15. Developing a QC Plan 191
16. Evaluating Risk 207
17. Mitigating Risk 221
18. Implementing Repeat Patient Test Controls 223
19. Developing QA to monitor the QC Plan 245
20. Monitoring Quality with EQA and PT 253
21. Implementing a Quality Management System 271
22. Managing Pre- and Post-Analytical Quality 291
23. Assuring the Right Quality Right 309
Index 329