Fundació pel Control de la Qualitat dels Laboratoris Clínics

The Fundació pel Control de la Qualitat dels Laboratoris Clínics (FPCQLC) is a non-profit foundation based in Catalonia, Spain, dedicated to improving the reliability of clinical laboratory results. It was constituted in 1987 with the initial objective of promoting external quality assessment programmes, building on the Programa de Control de Qualitat dels Laboratoris Clínics created by the Generalitat de Catalunya in 1983. The foundation organises external quality assurance programmes across the three basic specialties of the clinical laboratory: clinical biochemistry, haematology/haemostasis, and clinical microbiology/serology. Its core activity is the organisation of external quality assessment (proficiency testing) schemes that allow clinical laboratories to compare their results against peer laboratories and reference values, thereby supporting accuracy and comparability of diagnostic testing. According to the foundation, it has organised 73 external programmes covering close to 380 controlled magnitudes. Beyond these basic programmes, FPCQLC works to expand the number of programmes and controlled magnitudes and collaborates in other scientific activities related to quality, including the organisation of and participation in national and international courses and symposia. FPCQLC is a member of the European Organisation for External Quality Assurance Providers in Laboratory Medicine (EQALM), the relevant European body for external quality assurance providers in laboratory medicine. It also awards grants (beques) to support training, research and cooperation, and from 2020 it has convened grants for young scientists working on quality in laboratory medicine as well as training grants. The foundation operates as a non-profit organisation serving clinical laboratories, primarily in Catalonia.

The Fundació pel Control de la Qualitat dels Laboratoris Clínics (FPCQLC) traces its origins to the Programa de Control de Qualitat dels Laboratoris Clínics, created by the Generalitat de Catalunya in 1983. That programme established external quality assessment in the three basic specialties of the clinical laboratory: clinical biochemistry, haematology/haemostasis, and clinical microbiology/serology. In 1987 the foundation was constituted as a non-profit organisation, with the initial objective of promoting external quality assessment programmes. Its patrons committed to working not only on expanding the number of external programmes and controlled magnitudes — in order to ensure the reliability of clinical laboratory results in Catalonia — but also on organising other scientific activities to improve all aspects related to laboratory quality. Over the years the foundation has organised 73 external programmes covering close to 380 controlled magnitudes. It has also organised and participated in national and international courses and symposia, and has fostered research among clinical laboratory specialists through the convening and awarding of grants. As an organiser of external quality assessment or external quality assurance programmes, FPCQLC is a member of the European Organisation for External Quality Assurance Providers in Laboratory Medicine (EQALM). From 2020 the foundation has convened grants for young scientists working on quality in laboratory medicine, as well as training grants.

• 2020

  The foundation begins convening grants for young scientists working on quality in laboratory medicine, as well as training grants.

• 1987

  FPCQLC is constituted as a non-profit foundation to promote external quality assessment programmes.

• 1983

  The Generalitat de Catalunya creates the Programa de Control de Qualitat dels Laboratoris Clínics.

Non-profit external quality assurance provider for clinical laboratories in Catalonia, affiliated with EQALM.

• External quality assessment programmes in clinical biochemistry

• External quality assessment programmes in haematology/haemostasis

• External quality assessment programmes in clinical microbiology/serology

• Training, research and cooperation grants

1. 1FPCQLC · Fundació pel Control de Qualitat de Laboratoris Clínicsfpcqlc.org
2. 2FPCQLC · Presentació de la Fundació de Qualitat de Laboratoris Clínicsfpcqlc.org
3. 3Fundació pel Control de la Qualitat dels Laboratoris Clínicswikidata.org