Special Update — National Laboratory Accreditation System Getting Closer to Reality

The Synergist ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
AIHA Staff
Keyword(s):  
National Laboratory ◽  
Laboratory Accreditation ◽  
Accreditation System

scholarly journals Laboratory system strengthening and quality improvement in Ethiopia

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tilahun M. Hiwotu ◽  
Gonfa Ayana ◽  
Achamyeleh Mulugeta ◽  
Getachew B. Kassa ◽  
Yenew Kebede ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Laboratory ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Routine Activities ◽  
Laboratory Accreditation ◽  
P Value ◽  
Supportive Supervision ◽  
Laboratory System ◽  
Average Amount ◽  
Laboratory Management ◽  
Percentage Points

Background: In 2010, a National Laboratory Strategic Plan was set forth in Ethiopia to strengthen laboratory quality systems and set the stage for laboratory accreditation. As a result, the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) programme was initiated in 45 Ethiopian laboratories.Objectives: This article discusses the implementation of the programme, the findings from the evaluation process and key challenges.Methods: The 45 laboratories were divided into two consecutive cohorts and staff from each laboratory participated in SLMTA training and improvement projects. The average amount of supportive supervision conducted in the laboratories was 68 hours for cohort I and two hoursfor cohort II. Baseline and exit audits were conducted in 44 of the laboratories and percent compliance was determined using a checklist with scores divided into zero- to five-star ratinglevels.Results: Improvements, ranging from < 1 to 51 percentage points, were noted in 42 laboratories, whilst decreases were recorded in two. The average scores at the baseline and exit audits were 40% and 58% for cohort I (p < 0.01); and 42% and 53% for cohort II (p < 0.01),respectively. The p-value for difference between cohorts was 0.07. At the exit audit, 61% ofthe first and 48% of the second cohort laboratories achieved an increase in star rating. Poor awareness, lack of harmonisation with other facility activities and the absence of a quality manual were challenges identified.Conclusion: Improvements resulting from SLMTA implementation are encouraging. Continuous advocacy at all levels of the health system is needed to ensure involvement of stakeholders and integration with other improvement initiatives and routine activities.

Automated mineral analysis in TASK8

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-213
Author(s):  
William F. Chambers ◽  
Arthur A. Chodos ◽  
Roland C. Hagan
Keyword(s):  
National Laboratory ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Mineral Analysis ◽  
Alamos National Laboratory ◽  
Mineral Phase ◽  
Los Alamos National Laboratory ◽  
California Institute Of Technology ◽  
Mineral Phases ◽  
Letter Code ◽  
Institute Of Technology

TASK8 was designed as an electron microprobe control program with maximum flexibility and versatility, lending itself to a wide variety of applications. While using TASKS in the microprobe laboratory of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, we decided to incorporate the capability of using subroutines which perform specific end-member calculations for nearly any type of mineral phase that might be analyzed in the laboratory. This procedure minimizes the need for post-processing of the data to perform such calculations as element ratios or end-member or formula proportions. It also allows real time assessment of each data point.The use of unique “mineral codes” to specify the list of elements to be measured and the type of calculation to perform on the results was first used in the microprobe laboratory at the California Institute of Technology to optimize the analysis of mineral phases. This approach was used to create a series of subroutines in TASK8 which are called by a three letter code.

Chemical and orientational imaging of polymeric samples

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 68-69
Author(s):  
H. Ade ◽  
B. Hsiao ◽  
G. Mitchell ◽  
E. Rightor ◽  
A. P. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ethylene Terephthalate ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Brookhaven National Laboratory ◽  
Carbonyl Groups ◽  
Aromatic Rings ◽  
Edge Structure ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Scanning Transmission ◽  
Polymeric Samples ◽  
X Ray Absorption

We have used the Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscope at beamline X1A (X1-STXM) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) to acquire high resolution, chemical and orientation sensitive images of polymeric samples as well as point spectra from 0.1 μm areas. This sensitivity is achieved by exploiting the X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) of the carbon K edge. One of the most illustrative example of the chemical sensitivity achievable is provided by images of a polycarbonate/pol(ethylene terephthalate) (70/30 PC/PET) blend. Contrast reversal at high overall contrast is observed between images acquired at 285.36 and 285.69 eV (Fig. 1). Contrast in these images is achieved by exploring subtle differences between resonances associated with the π bonds (sp hybridization) of the aromatic groups of each polymer. PET has a split peak associated with these aromatic groups, due to the proximity of its carbonyl groups to its aromatic rings, whereas PC has only a single peak.

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