Which practice is part of quality control in laboratory operations?

Which practice is part of quality control in laboratory operations?

• A. Document QC results and corrective actions
• B. Ignore QC during busy periods
• C. Rely on memory for QC
• D. QC is optional in some labs

Answer: (A)

Documenting QC results and corrective actions is central to quality control in the lab because it creates a complete, traceable record of how tests performed against established controls. This record lets you verify that control materials behaved within acceptance limits, spot trends or drift over time, and demonstrate that any deviations were properly investigated and addressed. When out-of-spec results occur, recording the corrective actions—what was changed, who did it, and whether the issue was resolved—ensures that the root cause is tackled and that similar problems don’t recur. This documentation also supports regulatory compliance and internal audits, showing that quality processes are active and accountable.

Ignoring QC during busy periods undermines reliability, as shortcuts can hide failures that would otherwise be detected. Relying on memory for QC results is prone to omissions or misinterpretation, especially when data must be reviewed later. Treating QC as optional contradicts the fundamental purpose of quality assurance in the lab, which is to verify that results are accurate and reproducible.