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Laboratory Improvement

Mission Statement

The mission of Laboratory Improvement of the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health (NCSLPH) is to improve public health through the encouragement and promotion of good laboratory practice. Today’s clinical laboratory is a rapidly changing technical arena of newly explored areas of medicine, highly specialized tests, sophisticated instruments and computers. The growing pressure on all health care institutions to ration limited funds is forcing laboratories to improve accuracy, promptness and effectiveness of services. Individual laboratorians, though well-prepared by educational institutions, must actively participate in continuing education in order to keep pace.

Laboratory Improvement fulfills its mission by providing current information in all areas of clinical and environmental public health laboratory practice. Training is provided in Raleigh and regionally as needed. New for 2011, Laboratory Improvement will begin using an Adobe Connect web conferencing tool to provide training to sites throughout the state. The Laboratory Improvement consultants located in Raleigh and in four regional offices across the state are available to reinforce training through onsite and telephone consultations.

Laboratory Improvement also works with the Association of Public Health Laboratories  (APHL) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide additional training programs throughout the year. The NCSLPH is also a contributing member of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). Individual consultants hold membership in, or registration by, the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science, the National Certification Agency for Medical Personnel, and the Clinical Laboratory Management Association.

To contact the Laboratory Improvement branch of the N.C. State Laboratory, call (919) 733-7186.

Objectives

To support N.C. laboratorians in achieving and maintaining high standards of lab practice through effective consultation and the delivery of comprehensive and relevant training while strinving to serve as a model for other traiing units.

1. Provide consultation and leadership to laboratories, state agencies, and other states.
2. Ensure regulatory compliance and provide technical services for CLIA contract counties.
3. Develop and make available continuing education opportunities and resources.
4. Serve as an advocate for laboratorians.
5. Maintain and distribute microbiological cultures.
6. Perform quality control on gonorrhea-selective media.

Resources

• Stock Culture Order Form (PDF, 33 KB)

See also:

• Lab Improvement
• Training Workshops
• Consultation
• GC QC Memos
• Lab-Oratory Newsletter
• Lab Bulletins
• N.C. Infectious Disease Reporting
• The "Do You Know Who to Contact" List