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Laboratory Practice Quality Assurance (LPQA)

Knowledge of guidelines and principles for quality assurance in a laboratory environment; ability to monitor and evaluate the appropriateness of laboratory practices for general laboratory safety and adherence to policies in all areas.

Behavior Statements

Proficiency Level 1 - Basic understanding

Identifies the major concepts and stages of laboratory practice quality assurance.

Describes regulations and ethical standards governing the LPQA process.

Lists the basic technologies and equipment required for an effective LPQA program.

Clarifies the requirements needed to implement and evaluate an LPQA program.

Proficiency Level 2 - Working experience

Examines laboratory sample collection, handling and analyzation procedures.

Operates quality testing equipment and verifies collected data.

Adheres to related guidelines, regulations, standards and safety procedures in the LPQA process.

Handles actual or potential problems that affect the analytical results of an LPQA program.

Assesses laboratory equipment calibration and maintenance at various LPQA stages.

Proficiency Level 3 - Extensive experience

Oversees and prepares contingency plans for potential problems in standard LPQA procedures.

Designs data auditing criteria to evaluate the validity of collected data.

Directs the selection of LPQA techniques in complex laboratory environments.

Optimizes key stages (e.g. analytical stage) in the LPQA process to improve efficiency.

Evaluates LPQA precautionary measures; prevents the practice of faulty laboratory processes.

Coordinates interdepartmental and external LPQA procedures.

Proficiency Level 4 - Subject matter depth and breadth

Designs LPQA processes in line with laboratory practice strategies.

Champions the use of new technologies to improve the quality of lab practices and reduce organizational costs.

Establishes industry norms, standards and guidelines for LPQA.

Discusses future developments in LPQA qualification protocols, assessment and specifications.

Stays abreast of LPQA trends and makes recommendations to the organization accordingly.

Develops a theoretical understanding of LPQA and mentors on issues and considerations.

Interview Questions

  • Tell me about LPQA projects you were involved in as a part of your previous job.
  • What kinds of tools and technologies have you used to ensure the quality of laboratory services?
  • How did you conduct quality testing for different types of laboratory practices?
  • What kinds of problems did you encounter when you were involved in quality assurance projects?
  • How did you evaluate the effectiveness of a specific quality assurance procedure in your organization?

Titles with Shared Competencies