QUESTIONS OF THE INTERNAL CONTROL QUALITY ASSURANCE OF TEST'S RESULTS IN THE TESTING LABORATORY

Abstract

The problems regarding arrangement and implementation of the intralaboratory quality control (ILC) of test results in testing laboratories (TL) are reviewed and summarized. The main goals of ILC directly aimed at minimization of the risks of getting unsatisfactory test results are considered along with the choice of the methods and types of control. The process and system approaches to organization and performance of the ILC are proposed with allowance for the risk assessment at the stages of planning, implementation, and monitoring of the ILC, which provide a control of all measurement techniques (MT) used in the laboratory, thus making the control procedure transparent to all the parties concerned. An effective way to describe the ILC starting with the stage of planning is recommended. The proposed "ILC Program" ensures the efficiency and effectiveness of the process to match the goals set for ILC: ensuring of the required accuracy (uncertainty) of current test results for the entire nomenclature of measurement techniques, maintaining the testing processes in a statistically controlled state, and, consequently, ensuring of the confidence of internal and external customers and supervisory organizations to the results of testing and activities of the TL as a whole thus proving the technical competence of the laboratory. We present the results of analysis of all ILC stages using the Shewhart-Deming — PDCA principle with a list of possible risks of obtaining unreliable results. Recommendations on the effective implementation of each stage of the process are given. Listed typical mistakes of ILC implementation can help the readers not only to avoid them, but also consider them as possible risks.