A program of quality assurance for the laboratory is described that addresses both process and outcome validation. It begins by an analyses of the workload processing sequence, i.e., ordering, collecting, trans porting, analyzing specimens, reporting tests results in a timely manner, and reduction of instrument, staff, and system-related errors in the generation of laboratory information. The observable medical staff requirements for effective utilization of the labora tory is the basis for defining outcome measures.
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