ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL CRITERIA FOR QUALITY SYSTEMS OF MEDICAL LABORATORIES

Essential Criteria for Quality Systems of Medical Laboratories have be en published recently by the European Community Confederation of Clini cal Chemistry (EC4) Working Group on Harmonisation of Quality Systems and Accreditation. The Essential Criteria address the majority of crit ical aspects of quality management in the medical laboratory. They hav e been accepted by the EC4 General Assembly and are endorsed by the Fo rum of European Societies for Clinical Chemistry (FESCC). However, a s upplement to the Essential Criteria was necessary, addressing two aspe cts, which are only partly covered by the Essential Criteria: the mana gement of resources and point of care testing. Thus, the EC4 Working G roup on Harmonisation of Quality Systems and Accreditation has decided to formulate Additional Essential Criteria for Quality Systems of Med ical Laboratories, directed at the issues of management of resources a nd point of care testing. Criteria on management of resources address financial aspects, information logistics and acceptance by clients. Cr iteria on point of care testing address responsibilities, education of non-laboratory staff and operational aspects. The Additional Criteria are supplementary to the previously published Essential Criteria and should be read as an integral part of these.