quality indicator

A quality indicator is a defined measure used to monitor performance of a process or outcome that matters to laboratory service quality. Examples include specimen rejection rates, delayed critical-result notifications, or the proportion of reports corrected after release. An indicator needs a clear purpose, an operational definition, a data source, a review frequency, and responsibility for action.

Specify the numerator, denominator, inclusion rules, and handling of missing information where relevant. Targets and thresholds should have a justified basis and should not encourage staff to conceal problems. A percentage without its underlying workload or context can be misleading. Review trends and important individual events, and consider whether differences reflect changes in service mix, data capture, or true process performance before deciding on an intervention.

Accreditation assessment considers whether indicators support decisions and improvement, not how many dashboards the laboratory produces. Select measures across the patient pathway and connect concerning trends to investigation and action. After changing a process, check both the intended outcome and possible unintended effects, such as faster reporting achieved at the expense of necessary review.