CAP Pro Course - Immunology - Monitoring the Testing Process in Immunology (2026 & 2027)

Author: Kevin Foley PhD, MLS, DABCC
Reviewer: Laurie Bjerklie, MA, MLS(ASCP)CM

Continuing Education Credits

Objectives

  • Discuss quality control procedures for immunology testing, including actions that must be taken when quality control test results are not acceptable.
  • Explain the purpose of proficiency testing and identify practices that are acceptable and unacceptable when proficiency testing is being performed.
  • Describe the proper course of action when problems with the test system are discovered during the postanalytical phase of immunology testing.
  • Discuss the role of equipment maintenance and the effect it can have on testing precision and accuracy.

Course Outline

  • Discuss quality control procedures for immunology testing, including actions that must be taken when quality control test results are not acceptable.
      • General Quality Control Requirements
      • Quality Control for Immunology/Serology Tests
      • Choosing Quality Control
      • Corrective Action
      • Quality Control Testing Protocol
      • The test method system uses a cut-off value of 1.00 to distinguish between positive and negative results. If the concentration of antigen in one patie...
      • The test devices on the right represent HIV testing that was done on three patients. The T on the test device represents the test area, and the C repr...
      • A laboratory supervisor has purchased a new immunoassay instrument and is selecting new controls. Which of the following is a good "Rule of Thumb" whe...
      • If a laboratory wants to verify that an immunoassay is calibrated, which of the following actions would be an acceptable option?
      • Which of the following actions is unacceptable for determining calibration verification?
      • What factor does calibration of an instrument determine?
  • Explain the purpose of proficiency testing and identify practices that are acceptable and unacceptable when proficiency testing is being performed.
      • Proficiency Testing
      • Proficiency Testing Requirements
      • Mary is the immunology supervisor at hospital laboratory A. Jane is the immunology supervisor at hospital laboratory B. Both have received samples for...
      • An immunology laboratory receives a proficiency testing (PT) sample for ANA testing. The laboratory's current ANA method is an IFA microscopy procedur...
      • Which type of laboratory in the United States is required to participate in proficiency testing (PT)?
      • Today you are running the immunoassay analyzer that is responsible for thyroid testing. Your supervisor asks that you run the proficiency testing (PT)...
      • You have been tasked with running the five proficiency testing (PT) samples on the immunoassay analyzer that have come into the laboratory from the PT...
      • A health care system has four hospitals. Proficiency testing (PT) samples for several immunology procedures arrive in all the laboratories on a day wh...
  • Describe the proper course of action when problems with the test system are discovered during the postanalytical phase of immunology testing.
      • Quality in the Postanalytic Phase of Testing
      • Error Detection in the Postanalytic Phase
      • An incorrect test result has been reported on a patient due to a specimen labeling error. A new specimen is collected, and the test is repeated. What ...
      • The analyzer flags a patient's result as critical. You call and speak to Jill Jones, the RN in charge of the patient's care, giving her the critical v...
      • A laboratory's quality management plan must be designed to ensure quality from the time a sample enters the lab until the time a sample is put into st...
  • Discuss the role of equipment maintenance and the effect it can have on testing precision and accuracy.
      • Equipment Used to Support Laboratory Testing
      • An immunology laboratory performs a test that requires the use of a heat block. The test is batched and performed on Mondays and Thursdays. What is th...
      • A laboratory routinely screens for syphilis using the RPR test. A medical laboratory technician performing the RPR testing for the day is getting unac...
      • A stat immunology test is received in the laboratory. The kit is removed from the refrigerator and allowed to come to room temperature before use. Upo...
      • A medical laboratory scientist (MLS) working the second shift notices that the main refrigerator that houses the laboratory's reagents has not had its...
  • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Intended Audience: This program is primarily designed as an educational tool for MLS and MLT personnel as well as medical laboratory students and interns.
Author Information: Kevin F. Foley, PhD, DABCC, MLS, SC, is the director of clinical pathology for the Kaiser Permanente Northwest region. He also teaches clinical chemistry at Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Foley earned his PhD in clinical pharmacology and toxicology at East Carolina School of Medicine in North Carolina. He received a PhD in clinical pharmacology and toxicology from the Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC. He has been working in laboratory medicine for over 15 years, starting his career as a medical technologist.
The author has no conflict of interest to disclose.
Reviewer Information: Laurie Bjerklie, MA, MLS(ASCP)CM, is a Lead Education Developer. She earned a B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science from the University of North Dakota and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Saint Xavier University. She has over 15 years of experience in higher education and has held program director and faculty positions in both MLT and MLS programs.

This course is part of the CAP Competency Assessment Hub.

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