Laboratory Proficiency Testing

Formal recognition of competence of a laboratory by an accreditation body has many advantages.

- Dr Lona Mohapatra

Laboratory proficiency testing is an essential element of the laboratory quality assurance programme. Proficiency testing determines the performance of individual laboratories for specific tests or measurements and is used for monitoring laboratories’ continuing performance. 

Every standard hospital has an in-house 24X7 laboratory catering to in-house as well as walk in patients. Besides being an aid to diagnosis and treatment, the laboratory also conducts teaching programmes for its own staff, nurses and resident doctors. The hospital laboratory and the trained paramedics provide comprehensive and analytical test results. Laboratory also provides the health authorities with statistical data which enables them to detect the source of infection, helps in early diagnosis of outbreak, selection of appropriate chemoprophylaxis and tracing of the spread of infection.