ABSTRACT
The aims described so far are commonly known as internal quality control. External quality control procedures, which are commonly used in clinical chemistry, are designed to ensure the quality of data is independent of the laboratory which generates it. This chapter will consider only internal quality control. Finally, it should be emphasised that quality control is not an option, it is part of good laboratory practice in every sense. Regulatory authorities are demanding higher standards, and all customers have a right to expect analysts to be able to justify their results.
