Microbiology Internal Quality Control and External Quality Assessment Policy

14 pages. Sets out twelve elements under internal control with the control material, frequency and acceptance criterion for each, plus equipment and environmental monitoring. Covers control strain sourcing, preservation and the passage limit that keeps a strain valid, media sterility and performance checking, and a nine step failure investigation. Includes external scheme enrollment, handling assessment specimens as routine work, acting on each outcome type, and alternative assessment where no scheme exists.