Chaudhary et al., Int J Med Lab Res, 1(2): 38-47 www.ijmlr.com/IJMLR© All right are reserved 38 38 ISSN 2456-4400 QUALITY DETERMINANTS FOR MEDICAL HISTOLOGY LABORATORY * Poonam Chaudhary 1 , Mahesh Sharma 2 , Kanchan Kapoor 3 1 Senior Medical Technologist, Department of Anatomy, GMCH, Chandigarh and Research Scholar, Amity University Haryana, India 2 Professor & Head, Department of Anatomy, GMCH, Chandigarh, India 3 Professor, Department of Anatomy, GMCH, Chandigarh, India Received:13 Sep, 2016/Accepted:24 Oct, 2016 Abstract: Unlike other fields of laboratory medicine, the concept of quality control and quality assurance is relatively less applied and experienced for histological testing. This conceptual review article is an attempt in the direction to observe best practices in a histology or histopathology laboratory. These best practices have been observed and experienced by us over a long period while working in a histology laboratory. Quality control and quality assurance involved at every step of the histological testing right from the specimen collection up to issuing of the final report will help to achieve quality outcomes in a comprehensive manner which ultimately will contribute towards achieving of a culture of total quality management in a hospital or any healthcare organization. Keywords: Quality; pre-analytical; analytical; post-analytical; histological; total quality management INTRODUCTION: The discipline of Histology in the Department of Anatomy or the section of Histopathology under Laboratory Medicine deals with the scientific study of cells & tissues and related diseases. The study involves microscopy to look at cells and tissues present in the specimens which have been carefully prepared by undergoing procedures called histological techniques. The concept of quality assurance and quality control is relatively new to these sections unlike other parts of Laboratory Medicine. It is basically due to inherent characteristics of histology specimens and their studies including lack of numerical data, subjective assessment of histological and pathological slides, descriptive reports, lack of standardized pattern of reporting and individual bias and judgement while interpreting the slides under the microscope. 1 In cases of histological processing which are done manually, most of the variables depend upon the individual operator’s ability and training which in turn influence the final findings. REVIEW ARTICLE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL LABORATORY RESEARCH *Corresponding Author: Poonam Chaudhary Senior Medical Technologist, Department of Anatomy, GMCH, Sector -32, Chandigarh-160030