Veterinary Laboratory Association Quality Assurance Program (VQAP)®
Introduction
Working in conjunction with the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) and the Veterinary Laboratory Association (VLA), DCL is proud to offer an external proficiency testing program expressly designed for veterinary laboratories and hospitals.
 
The VLA Quality Assurance Program (VQAP) is a simple, efficient and all-encompassing quality assurance (QA) program, designed to provide laboratories a convenient and confidential means of comparing internal test results to those of their peers in the veterinary field. Enrollment in the Program enables participants to take an important step in assuring laboratory accuracy and test reporting.
Testing Disciplines
Participants in VQAP may choose any combination of the eight testing areas available to customize the Program to best meet the needs of their individual facility. Major fields of laboratory testing include:
Bacteriology – Includes four samples annually for culture and sensitivity.
Chemistry/Toxicology – Provides eight or more samples per year for the testing of over 30 separate analytes – including esoterics.
Endocrinology – Offers four samples per year for the analysis of up to nine hormones.
Hematology – Presents four or eight whole blood samples, plus four Wright-Geimsa stained slides for analysis or differential reading.
Histopathology – Provides four cases per year for morphological evaluation.
Parasitology – Presents four samples per year for identification.
Serology – Offers eight companion animal samples per year for routine analysis.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring – Includes four annual samples for the analysis of up to six different drug compounds.Urinalysis – Provides four samples and kodachromes annually for macroscopic and microscopic analysis.
Key Features & Benefits
Flexibility In Data Submission – Allows submission of all test data through the internet, by mail, or via fax – the choice is up to the laboratory.
Comprehensive Test Reports – All test data is supplied in a customized summary report, using both graphical and numerical presentations.
Totally Confidential – All submitted test data is pooled and statistically analyzed in strict confidence by the AVC.
Peer Group Comparisons– Allows review of intra-laboratory data and inter-laboratory peer group statistics, which serves to improve laboratory testing accuracy.
Free Subscription To ListServer – The VQAP ListServer allows participants to easily communicate with laboratories world-wide, creating an open forum for discussion on a host of important veterinary topics.
Continuing Education – VQAP Bacteriology, Hematology, Histopathology and Parasitology test result modules include review articles and chromes to discuss the reasoning and rationale behind the benchmark results.
Full Service & Support – Customer and Technical Services are available by phone, fax, or email.
What VQAP Users Have To Say . . .
“The VLA Quality Assurance Program is an excellent program. It is the best value that will be found in quality assurance programs.”
– Dr. Richard Kilburn, County Line Animal Hospital
“In-house quality assurance programs are essential for monitoring test precision, but it is participation in an external quality assurance program that confirms accuracy.”
– Dr. James Matthews. IDEXX Veterinary Services
Program And Subscriber Information
To find out more information on the VLA Quality Assurance Program, please contact Mrs. Stacie Hotham, VLA Quality Assurance Program Consultant via email at jshotham@pshift.com, by phone at 1-207-227-0302, or by fax at 1-207-433-1018.
Revision No. VLA1S-03-14-07
VQAP, VLA & Veterinary Laboratory Quality Assurance Program are all registered service marks of the Veterinary Laboratory Association.
© Diagnostic Chemicals Limited 2007. All rights reserved.
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