Laboratory Quality Control and Management Flashcards
7 cards from real CMT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Laboratory Quality Control and Management flashcards as text
Which statistical measure describes the spread of data points around the mean in a quality control dataset?
Answer: Standard deviation
Standard deviation (SD) measures the dispersion or spread of data points around the mean and is the foundation of QC limit setting.
On a Levey-Jennings chart, warning limits are most commonly set at:
Answer: ±2 SD from the established mean
Levey-Jennings charts typically display warning limits at ±2 SD and rejection limits at ±3 SD from the established mean.
What is the correct action when a QC failure occurs during a laboratory testing run?
Answer: Hold patient results, investigate the cause, correct the problem, rerun QC, and then report results
Upon QC failure, patient results must be held, the cause investigated, corrective action taken, and QC must pass before patient results are reported.
What is the primary purpose of a 'delta check' in laboratory quality management?
Answer: Comparing a patient's current result with their previous result to detect unexpected changes
Delta checks compare a patient's current laboratory result with a previous result to detect specimen identification errors or clinically unexpected changes.
Which type of analytical error causes all test results to consistently shift in one direction away from the true value?
Answer: Systematic error
Systematic error causes a consistent, directional shift of all results from the true value, affecting accuracy while precision may be maintained.
According to CLIA regulations, how often must calibration verification be performed for quantitative laboratory tests?
Answer: Every 6 months or when specified by the manufacturer
CLIA regulations require calibration verification at least every 6 months, whenever calibration is performed, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
What is the primary function of a Laboratory Information System (LIS) in quality management?
Answer: To manage, store, and accurately transmit patient and QC data
The LIS manages and stores patient and QC data, facilitates result transmission to clinicians, and supports overall laboratory workflow and documentation.