Compliance of the PNAEQ Preanalytical scheme with the ISO 15189:2012

Abstract

Since 2007 PNAEQ the Portuguese External Quality Assessment Program, has implemented the EQA program to evaluate the preanalytical phase PNAEQ established a consortium with Labquality and ECAT Foundation that allowed the evaluation of more items. Although the accreditation of clinical laboratories by ISO 15189 2012 is not mandatory in Portugal, the implementation of good practices is essential to ensure that the collection, handling and transport of samples ensures correct analytical results Laboratories must have tools to detect, monitor, reduce and eliminate errors in Preanalytical phase. The participation in these schemes provided by PNAEQ allows the evaluation and information of the direct impact on the sample quality, technician safety, analytical results and thereafter on the patient health, providing schemes that allow the compliance with the management and technical requirements of ISO 15189 2012. The aim of this work is to inform clinical laboratories that the participation on a EQA scheme on Preanalytical phase allows the compliance with the normative reference and evidence the good laboratory practices.