Vertical Auditing

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For any laboratory to be able to produce results that are trustworthy or to have accreditation with a regulatory body it has to have a quality management system (QMS) in operation but to ensure that this system works they need to carryout regular audits to ensure they are obtaining the standards that the laboratory has set. Standards that are set by laboratories are codes of best practice that are set out to ensure efficiency and safety of all working in that laboratory. The international organisation for standardisation (ISO) is the world’s largest publisher and developer of standards but it is UKAS, the UKs national accreditation body, which is recognised by the UK governments to assess the standards of ISO and issue accreditation where these …show more content…
This would be done to ensure that all standards are being met and identify any non-compliance within the laboratory, which then allows any changes to be carried out within the QMS to ensure compliance with all standards the laboratory has set and also the standards held with any regulatory bodies the laboratory is accredited with. An internal audit normally will consist of a vertical audit. A vertical audit follows the full journey of an item through the laboratory, e.g. a blood tube which has been sent to have a full blood count into a haematology lab. A vertical audit is closely linked with ensuring SOPs are implemented throughout the laboratory. During the audit an auditor would follow the sample through from receiving the sample into lab, checking how the sample was processed into the system and by whom? But also how the count has been done? Whether all machines used have been calibrated and accredited? Have all staff that have come into contact with the sample been accredited, and finally how was the sample disposed of and how were the results are communicated and by …show more content…
This usually involves the undertaking of a horizontal audit. This type of audit is usually done by checking one element multiple times to ensure that it is being consistently carried out to the same standard every time, a good example would be ensuring paper work for samples was being filled out to the standards each time. But also an examination audit could be conducted, this would involve watching a person carrying out the SOP procedure in real time , ensuring standard operating procedures’ (SOPs) are being carried out to within the standards required and produce the correct standards but also that the operator carrying out the SOP has a good understanding of the