The importance of laboratory test results in the practice of
medicine and the increasing complexity of many modern laboratory procedures
makes it essential that quality control (QC) measures be instituted to monitor
the rapidly expanding, often automated, laboratory technology. QC is the
responsibility of all laboratory personnel. QC procedures should be performed
on a regular basis in the Mycobacteriology laboratory to assure reproducibility
and reliability of laboratory results. For a QC to be helpful, it must be
practicable and workable. Most of the clinical laboratories in the developing
countries lack a well organised QC network. On the contrary, the majority
of the clinical laboratories in the USA are under the jurisdiction of one or
more accreditation agencies
