The Effect of Audit and training on Standardization of Medical Laboratories

Maintenance of standard principles in medical laboratories results in ensuring quality of output processes and reporting accurate test results. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of training and audit on establishing standardization in medical laboratories. To achieve this goal, the states of observing standards as "quality control, safety requirements, space, utilities, and documentation principles" in the medical laboratories after and before providing training programs and audit s were compared with each other. Using a standardized checklist of Health Reference Laboratory and also respecting "preliminary audit results and needs assessment of employee training", monthly training programs for the staff of the medical laboratory were designed and also regular audits of lab management in the Social Security of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari was carried out. The results of the compliance plan during the 18-month period of the study began in (2012) were recorded. The results of the study showed that although training, per se, is helpful, mostly they indicated no existence of its significance in establishment of standardization. Conducting planned audit after training programs showed significant difference as for standardization. Training along with auditing standards has an apparent impact on medical laboratories, but this important issue is not realized unless senior managers support the plan and changes in staff's approaches to standardization happen.