THE COLLEGE-OF-AMERICAN-PATHOLOGISTS, 1946-1996 - QUALITY ASSURANCE SERVICE

Since its creation in 1970, the College of American Pathologists Quali ty Assurance Service Committee has provided important and highly respe cted interlaboratory programs for daily quality control. In 1988, this committee extended its domain by announcing Q-Probes, a unique benchm arking program for laboratory quality assurance. Because of the succes s and rapid growth of this program during the next 2 years, the Qualit y Assurance Service Committee expanded into two committees, namely, QA S-QC and QAS-QA, with expertise concentrated, respectively, in quality control and quality assurance. These committees have compiled a histo ry of significant scientific and educational contributions to members, the international laboratory community, other physicians, and patient s. New directions for both committees are now underway so that their c ontributions can continue in the rapidly changing field of pathology a nd laboratory medicine.