Science Journal of Public Health

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Fitness of Public Health Laboratory in the Republic of Macedonia for the Application of Standards for Quality

Received: 24 April 2014    Accepted: 13 May 2014    Published: 30 May 2014
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Abstract

The main goal of this master’s study is to determine preparedness of public health laboratories concerning the conditions (area, equipment, and staff) and in relation to quality standard application, with identification of the current condition of laboratories in relation to the area, equipment and staff as well as quality standard application in the Institute and the Public Health Centres in the Republic of Macedonia. This research was conducted through a Questionnaire, which was adapted from the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard and modified for the goals of the study. Total 144 employees completed the Questionnaire which they were given during the survey (face to face method), with the aim of reducing possible errors. Statistic processing was conducted through application of standard descriptive analyses of quality indicators and check of the hypotheses put forward. The study identified that globally, the preparedness of public health laboratories in the Republic of Macedonia in relation to conditions (area, equipment and staff), for quality standard application, is seen as PARTIAL. The current condition of laboratories in relation to the area, equipment and staff, as well as quality standard application in the Institute and the Public Health Centres in the Republic of Macedonia varies and differs significantly between accredited and non-accredited public health laboratories. In the accredited public health laboratories in the RM, interviewed employees in the Public Health Institute of the RM showed best knowledge and dedication for quality system maintenance in testing laboratories. One can distinguish essential differences in the management staff’s view and knowledge in relation to introducing quality systems between managers - health professionals and managers – economists. Testing laboratories in the Institute of Public Health of the RM and few Public Health Centres have adequate and modern equipment, in line with the testing methods, great inadequacy of space in relation to its distribution, non-permitted access, cleanliness and monitoring the ambiance conditions. Professional and competent staffs work in the Institute and in all Public Health Centres, in particular when it comes to testing activities. Motivation of staffs instigated by management teams is what is missing. Both internal and external trainings of staffs are necessary.

DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.25
Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 2, Issue 3, May 2014)
Page(s) 229-233
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Accreditation, Standards, Testing laboratory, Quality Management System, Technical Requirements

References
[1] Drake G. Objectives and Roles of Accreditation and Certification of Laboratories, Accred Qual Assur 2003; 8: 441.
[2] Barker R, Wichmann B. Guidance for Accredited Laboratories. Accred Qual Assur 1999; 4: 287-98;
[3] International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General Requirements for the competence of testing an calibration laboratories.
[4] International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Quality Management for Medical Laboratory. (ISO/FDIS 15189). ISO: Geneva.
[5] Loeber JG Slagter S. Code of practice for implementation of a quality system in laboratories in the health care sector. 2nd rev. ed. Bilthoven: CCKL secretariat, 1995. PO box 392, 3720 AJ Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
[6] Jansen RTP, Kenny D, Blaton V, Burnett D, Huisman W, Plebani M, Queralto JM, Zerah S, van Lieshout J. Usefulness of EC4 Essential Criteria for Quality Systems of Medical Laboratories as Guideline to the ISO 15189 and ISO 17025 Documents. Clin Chem Lab Med 2000; 38: 1057-64.
[7] WHO Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Series 3 ,,Principles of Management of Health Laboratories,,, Alexandria, Egyp, 1993
[8] International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems (Requirements).
[9] Engelhard T, Feller E, Nizri Z. A Comparison of the Complimentary and Different Issues in ISO/IEC 17025 and OECD GLP. Accred Qual Assur 2003; 8: 208-12.
[10] Jacobson S. Accreditation of Calibration Laboratories to Normative Documents: Diversity or Standardization. Accred Qual Assur 2004; 9: 427-8.
[11] http://www.iarm.gov.mk
[12] Visser R. Standardization News: NEN 7777 – Standardization of the Validation Process. Accred Qual Assur 2001; 6: 327-9.
[13] Stuart M, Squirrell A, Basley L. Reference Material Requirements for Laboratories and the Role of Accreditation Bodies. Accred Qual Assur 2004; 9: 209-14.
[14] Fishbach R. Metrological Demands of ISO 17025 on Testing Laboratiries. Accred Qual Assur 2001; 6: 41.
[15] http://www.publichealth.lacountry.gov
[16] http://www.ilac.org.
Author Information
  • Institute for Public Health of Republic of Macedonia, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

  • Institute of Microbiology and parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University “Ss Cyril and Methodius”, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

  • Institute for Public Health of Republic of Macedonia, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

  • Institute for Public Health of Republic of Macedonia, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

  • Institute for Public Health of Republic of Macedonia, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

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    Evgenija Kiroska-Petreska, Katja Popovska, Vesna Kostikj, Dragan Gjorgjev, Branka Petrovska. (2014). Fitness of Public Health Laboratory in the Republic of Macedonia for the Application of Standards for Quality. Science Journal of Public Health, 2(3), 229-233. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.25

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    ACS Style

    Evgenija Kiroska-Petreska; Katja Popovska; Vesna Kostikj; Dragan Gjorgjev; Branka Petrovska. Fitness of Public Health Laboratory in the Republic of Macedonia for the Application of Standards for Quality. Sci. J. Public Health 2014, 2(3), 229-233. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.25

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    AMA Style

    Evgenija Kiroska-Petreska, Katja Popovska, Vesna Kostikj, Dragan Gjorgjev, Branka Petrovska. Fitness of Public Health Laboratory in the Republic of Macedonia for the Application of Standards for Quality. Sci J Public Health. 2014;2(3):229-233. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.25

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.25,
      author = {Evgenija Kiroska-Petreska and Katja Popovska and Vesna Kostikj and Dragan Gjorgjev and Branka Petrovska},
      title = {Fitness of Public Health Laboratory in the Republic of Macedonia for the Application of Standards for Quality},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {2},
      number = {3},
      pages = {229-233},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.25},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.25},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20140203.25},
      abstract = {The main goal of this master’s study is to determine preparedness of public health laboratories concerning the conditions (area, equipment, and staff) and in relation to quality standard application, with identification of the current condition of laboratories in relation to the area, equipment and staff as well as quality standard application in the Institute and the Public Health Centres in the Republic of Macedonia. This research was conducted through a Questionnaire, which was adapted from the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard and modified for the goals of the study. Total 144 employees completed the Questionnaire which they were given during the survey (face to face method), with the aim of reducing possible errors. Statistic processing was conducted through application of standard descriptive analyses of quality indicators and check of the hypotheses put forward. The study identified that globally, the preparedness of public health laboratories in the Republic of Macedonia in relation to conditions (area, equipment and staff), for quality standard application, is seen as PARTIAL. The current condition of laboratories in relation to the area, equipment and staff, as well as quality standard application in the Institute and the Public Health Centres in the Republic of Macedonia varies and differs significantly between accredited and non-accredited public health laboratories. In the accredited public health laboratories in the RM, interviewed employees in the Public Health Institute of the RM showed best knowledge and dedication for quality system maintenance in testing laboratories. One can distinguish essential differences in the management staff’s view and knowledge in relation to introducing quality systems between managers - health professionals and managers – economists. Testing laboratories in the Institute of Public Health of the RM and few Public Health Centres have adequate and modern equipment, in line with the testing methods, great inadequacy of space in relation to its distribution, non-permitted access, cleanliness and monitoring the ambiance conditions. Professional and competent staffs work in the Institute and in all Public Health Centres, in particular when it comes to testing activities. Motivation of staffs instigated by management teams is what is missing. Both internal and external trainings of staffs are necessary.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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    AU  - Evgenija Kiroska-Petreska
    AU  - Katja Popovska
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    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    AB  - The main goal of this master’s study is to determine preparedness of public health laboratories concerning the conditions (area, equipment, and staff) and in relation to quality standard application, with identification of the current condition of laboratories in relation to the area, equipment and staff as well as quality standard application in the Institute and the Public Health Centres in the Republic of Macedonia. This research was conducted through a Questionnaire, which was adapted from the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard and modified for the goals of the study. Total 144 employees completed the Questionnaire which they were given during the survey (face to face method), with the aim of reducing possible errors. Statistic processing was conducted through application of standard descriptive analyses of quality indicators and check of the hypotheses put forward. The study identified that globally, the preparedness of public health laboratories in the Republic of Macedonia in relation to conditions (area, equipment and staff), for quality standard application, is seen as PARTIAL. The current condition of laboratories in relation to the area, equipment and staff, as well as quality standard application in the Institute and the Public Health Centres in the Republic of Macedonia varies and differs significantly between accredited and non-accredited public health laboratories. In the accredited public health laboratories in the RM, interviewed employees in the Public Health Institute of the RM showed best knowledge and dedication for quality system maintenance in testing laboratories. One can distinguish essential differences in the management staff’s view and knowledge in relation to introducing quality systems between managers - health professionals and managers – economists. Testing laboratories in the Institute of Public Health of the RM and few Public Health Centres have adequate and modern equipment, in line with the testing methods, great inadequacy of space in relation to its distribution, non-permitted access, cleanliness and monitoring the ambiance conditions. Professional and competent staffs work in the Institute and in all Public Health Centres, in particular when it comes to testing activities. Motivation of staffs instigated by management teams is what is missing. Both internal and external trainings of staffs are necessary.
    VL  - 2
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