ISO/TC 212/WG 1 - Quality and competence in the medical laboratory

This document specifies requirements and good practice recommendations for the collection and transport of samples intended for medical laboratory examinations. This document is applicable to medical laboratories and service providers, which can be independent from the medical laboratory, involved in laboratory pre-examination processes that include the examination request, patient preparation and identification, sample collection and transport. It can also be applicable to some biobanks. This document does not apply to blood and blood products intended for transfusion, e.g. red blood cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma, but can cover the collection and transport of donor samples for testing. NOTE International, national or regional regulations or requirements can also apply to specific topics covered in this document.

This document specifies requirements for quality and competence in medical laboratories. This document is applicable to medical laboratories in developing their management systems and assessing their competence. It is also applicable for confirming or recognizing the competence of medical laboratories by laboratory users, regulatory authorities and accreditation bodies. This document is also applicable to point-of-care testing (POCT). NOTE International, national, or regional regulations or requirements can also apply to specific topics covered in this document.

This document specifies the minimum requirements for equipment and critical aspects of the test methods for best practice in laboratories performing basic examination of human semen collected by ejaculation. This document is applicable to the entire process of basic manual semen examination and also to sample preparation for Computer-Aided Sperm Analysis (CASA). This document does not apply to the post-vasectomy assessments. NOTE Given the medico-legal ramifications surrounding the evaluation of post-vasectomy ejaculates, the methodology in this document is in all likelihood inadequate to establish an ejaculate as being completely “clear” (i.e. no spermatozoa in the ejaculate).

This document specifies a process for a medical laboratory to identify and manage the risks to patients, laboratory workers and service providers that are associated with medical laboratory examinations. The process includes identifying, estimating, evaluating, controlling and monitoring the risks. The requirements of this document are applicable to all aspects of the examinations and services of a medical laboratory, including the pre-examination and post-examination aspects, examinations, accurate transmission of test results into the electronic medical record and other technical and management processes described in ISO 15189. This document does not specify acceptable levels of risk. This document does not apply to risks from post-examination clinical decisions made by healthcare providers. This document does not apply to the management of risks affecting medical laboratory enterprises that are addressed by ISO 31000, such as business, economic, legal, and regulatory risks.

This document specifies requirements for safe practices in the medical laboratory (herein after referred to as "the laboratory").

This document gives guidance for supervisors and operators of point-of-care testing (POCT) services where POCT is performed without medical laboratory training, supervision or support. It includes the key components that should be considered to provide safe and reliable POCT results. Self-testing is excluded from this document.

ISO 22870:2016 gives specific requirements applicable to point-of-care testing and is intended to be used in conjunction with ISO 15189. The requirements of this document apply when POCT is carried out in a hospital, clinic and by a healthcare organization providing ambulatory care. This document can be applied to transcutaneous measurements, the analysis of expired air, and in vivo monitoring of physiological parameters. Patient self-testing in a home or community setting is excluded, but elements of this document can be applicable.

ISO/TS 17822-1:2014 is intended for ? IVD medical device manufacturers, medical laboratories, and research and development laboratories that develop nucleic acid-based qualitative in vitro diagnostic examination procedures for the detection and identification of microbial pathogens in human specimens, and ? medical laboratories that perform nucleic acid-based in vitro diagnostic examinations for the detection and identification of microbial pathogens in human specimens. This part of ISO/TS 17822 does not apply to ? nucleic acid-based examinations that are not intended for in vitro diagnostic use, or ? quantitative nucleic acid-based in vitro diagnostic examination procedures.

ISO 15189:2012 specifies requirements for quality and competence in medical laboratories. ISO 15189:2012 can be used by medical laboratories in developing their quality management systems and assessing their own competence. It can also be used for confirming or recognizing the competence of medical laboratories by laboratory customers, regulating authorities and accreditation bodies.

ISO 15189:2007 specifies requirements for quality and competence particular to medical laboratories. ISO 15189:2007 is for use by medical laboratories in developing their quality management systems and assessing their own competence, and for use by accreditation bodies in confirming or recognising the competence of medical laboratories.

ISO 22870:2006 gives specific requirements applicable to point-of-care testing and is intended to be used in conjunction with ISO 15189. The requirements of ISO 22870:2006 apply when POCT is carried out in hospital, clinic and by a healthcare organization providing ambulatory care. It can be applied to transcutaneous measurements, the analysis of expired air, and in vivo monitoring of physiological parameters. Patient self-testing in a home or community setting is excluded, but elements of ISO 22870:2006 can be applicable.

ISO/TR 22869:2005 provides guidance to medical laboratories describing how a medical laboratory can implement a quality system to meet the specific technical and management requirements for quality and competence in ISO 15189:2003. Bodies engaged in the recognition of the competence of medical laboratories may also be able to use ISO/TR 22869:2005 as a basis to assist laboratories in establishing a quality system to meet national requirements, while at the same time conforming to appropriate International Standards. This guidance applies both to newly established and existing laboratories and encompasses both the management and technical requirements of ISO 15189:2003.

ISO 15190:2003 specifies requirements for safe practices in the medical laboratory.

ISO 15189:2003 specifies requirements for quality and competence particular to medical laboratories.