Perception is reality to the observer, and a well-composed quality assurance manual is clear evidence that the staff of a facility has put time and effort into the program. Since each laboratory is different, the staff of each facility must tailor the overall program to determine the desired depth of the final outcome. Science requires both large and small leaps of faith when we rely on machines and reagents. Nothing should be left to chance or assumptions. At the bench level, any crucial step within a procedure which requires a predictable outcome from a machine or a reagent should be accompanied by a subroutine to assure that the outcome is indeed predictable.
Quality extends to personnel as well.
The credentials and continuing education of the staff should be of strong concern to the administration and should be documented and available for review to those who place their trust in the laboratory. These aforementioned highlights will be the framework of the educational process as the laboratory network comes into focus. During these visits, several labs exhibited technical strengths which deserve recognition. To cite some examples, the Barbados laboratory has a strong capability in poultry diseases and testing for antibiotic residues. The facility in Kingston, Jamaica has an excellent facility for detecting pesticide residues and an outstanding quality assurance program to support it.