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What's Your CoPQ? Quantifying the Value of Laboratory Quality
By Jennifer Dawson, MHA, LSSBB, DLM(ASCP)

The concept of quality in clinical laboratory operations is omnipresent, yet it is a nebulous term. All laboratory professionals agree that quality is important, but what does the term really mean, and how is it defined and measured? More specifically, how does one measure return on investment for quality activities in the lab and how is perpetual investment in quality justified to those who make the financial decisions? It is inherently difficult to measure something that is not clearly defined, and even more so to calculate a return on investment for something that you do not know how to measure. From a managerial standpoint, the inability to clearly and influentially demonstrate the financial feasibility of your quality program means that you will not get the funding necessary to support it. Fortunately, application of the concept of Cost of Poor Quality (CoPQ) can help.

CLICK HERE to read more about ways in which the lab can turn errors into improvements and ensure quality programs drive financial and patient safety gains.


Do You Know . . .
The drawbacks of the 30-Minute Rule regarding returned RBC units?

CLICK HERE to read our Q&A with Robert DeSimone, MD, regarding the vital importance of proper clinical temperature management of blood products. Proper stewardship of blood products requires a combination of training and education methods used in concert with clinical-grade storage, transport control, and monitoring mechanisms. As studies continue, this Q&A reveals that RBC temperature monitoring, as advocated by the AABB, may be safer for patients receiving reissued units.


Editor’s Pick


Improving the Chromatographic Method for Quantitative TDP
By Claude W. Sawney, MS, MLS(ASCP), and Edwin Escobar, BS

CLICK HERE to read Improving the Chromatographic Method for Quantitative TDP by Claude W. Sawney, MS, MLS(ASCP), and Edwin Escobar, BS, which discusses how a process improvement program lead to improving the chromatographic method for quantitative determination of thiamine diphosphate (TDP) at an esoteric testing facility. This article demonstrates that by simplifying the way the laboratory engages continuous improvement projects and avoiding a one-size-fits-all mentality, problems can be solved in a timely and efficient manner.


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