Chemistry quality control programs minimize errors in analytical laboratories, including controls on reagents, procedures, and personnel training. Proper programs are essential for a lab’s reputation, and round-robin sampling programs and blind sample subscriptions can evaluate performance. Industrial and medical labs have specific requirements for their quality control programs. Warehouse workers must follow precise procedures, and technicians should be supervised by trained chemists.
Chemistry quality control is a program that attempts to minimize errors due to negligent performance or poor procedures. The concept is applicable to analytical laboratories, as their main function is to analyze unknown samples and report the concentrations of various compounds. Many industrial and food processing facilities are supported by laboratories using chemistry quality control programs. These programs typically consist of controls placed on reagents and supplies, analytical procedures, and personnel training and qualifications.
A proper chemical quality control program is essential for any analytical laboratory. Their reputation is their most important business asset. These labs will go to great lengths to ensure the accuracy and precision of their reports.
Technicians often perform many repeating procedures on a daily basis. Boredom and inattention can be serious risks to a good job. To avoid this, management often rotates people across departments. While this alleviates the boredom problem, it increases training overload.
Unlabelled standard samples and duplicate samples must be included in each run. Procedures should be available at all times. The technician should have access to a senior chemist for consultation.
Analytical laboratories often have round-robin sampling programs in place. Different laboratories will test a standard spectrum of samples and compare reports. The sample should include a wide range of concentrations and represent samples from different sources. Lab managers can sign up for blind sample subscription services to evaluate their analytical performance.
Laboratories that support industrial processes tend to be very specialized. The amount of analytical work they do is limited to the production they support. Line tests are often performed on an ongoing basis to maintain consistency. Your chemistry quality control program will be similar to an analytical laboratory tailored for limited capabilities. Additional duties will be to monitor line quality control engineers.
Medical laboratories in hospitals employ specially trained technicians called med-techs. They follow very strict guidelines that focus not only on the analytical results, but on the traceability of the sample to the patient. Many of their samples include human blood and cellular fluids which degrade rapidly. Proper handling and storage of samples are essential.
Chemistry quality control goes beyond sample analysis. The warehouse manager must use a comprehensive reagent control system that monitors the date of purchase of the reagents and the required storage conditions. This is in addition to the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) required by many government agencies.
Mistakes made by warehouse workers can be a common source of error. Procedures must be precisely outlined and followed when preparing standard solutions or removing any reagent from a jar. Commonly used chemicals should be purchased in quantities that will typically be used up within a year.
Technicians often perform analytical work in chemical laboratories. Much of the work is routine and can be documented for repeatable results. Except in the most routine conditions, a formally trained chemist should supervise all operations. In large laboratories, the supervisors are often chemists who specialize in a particular subfield, such as the extraction of metals or the analysis of organic compounds.
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