[Guidelines for validation of the results in laboratory medicine]. / Recommandations pour la validation des résultats d'examens de biologie médicale.

The validation of the results is defined as the review and verification of the coherency and likelihood of the whole results of the examination for a patient, taking into account needed clinical data, uncertainty of measurement and anteriority's as well. The signature of the authorized person certifies this validation according to the requirements of the French regulation and ISO standard as well. Recommendations are given for the organization of this step specially for duty periods and in case of utilization of an expert system software. Requirements about the content, the release and the signature of the reports are given. A quality indicator applied to the control of the validation process is proposed.

[Guidelines for advisory services and results interpretation of biological examinations]. / Recommandations concernant les prestations de conseil et l'interprétation des résultats des examens de biologie médicale.

The "medical biologist" has to play a role as a consultant for the relevant use of biological examinations and to provide comments for their interpretation, comprehensible and useful to physicians. Advisory activities of the medical laboratory may help physician in diagnosis or therapeutic algorithm, avoiding ordering incomplete or useless examinations. After presentation of regulation and requirements of the EN ISO 15189 standard, this paper gives proposals for recommendations to apply in the context of accreditation. A proven and regular continuing education program is needed and professional practices must be supported by recognized and recent guidelines. This document provides suggestions for advisory services traceability and reports a list of websites and articles to use in defining standardised comments as well.

[Guidelines for records control and documents retention]. / Recommandations concernant la gestion des enregistrements et l'archivage documentaire.

The quality management system is based on records to maintain, according to the requirements of ISO 15189 standard and those of the French regulation as well, to ensure traceability of data. This article provides the nature of information and documents to be stored by the laboratory and the time they have to be maintained according to the French regulation. Moreover, it provides recommendations for the management and the control of records. Auditing the traceability of activities being a part of the elements of verification by COFRAC evaluators, a frame form for audit is also provided for self-assessment and preparation of accreditation.

[Self assessment grid for the post-analytical phase]. / Proposition de grille d'auto-évaluation de la phase post-analytique.

This document is a proposal of questionnaire for a self-assessment of the post-examination phase: results validation, reporting and transmitting, post-examination samples keeping and documents archival storage. The questions allow to check that the laboratory fulfils the ISO 15189 Standard and COFRAC SH REF 02 document, French regulatory requirements and more generally, satisfaction of its clients. This document can be used as it is or can be adapted to implement internal audit grids.

[Self assesment grid for pre-examination phase]. / Proposition de grille d'auto-évaluation de la phase pré-analytique.

This document is a proposal of questionnaire for self-assessment of pre-analytical phase referring to the different steps described in the document SG1-01. The questions are aimed at verifying that what is examined fulfills ISO 15189 standard requirements or in general tends towards client satisfaction. This questionnaire has been elaborated using 5 M risk assessment tool for exhaustiveness purpose. This document may be useful to develop internal audit grids.