Laboratory Quality Management: What CLIA and CAP Inspectors Want to See

Operating with quality at the forefront in clinical laboratories is not just a best practice; it is a regulatory expectation. Whether your lab is inspected under CLIA, CAP, or COLA, surveyors are not simply asking whether you have a quality assurance plan. They are evaluating whether your lab is actively tracking, documenting, and acting on the metrics that define it. In this educational webinar, Dr. Melissa Bell, DCLS, of Lighthouse Lab Services, will walk through how inspectors assess lab quality programs in real-world settings. Drawing on regulatory frameworks and field experience, this session will highlight what surveyors prioritize, where labs commonly fall short, and how to align your quality systems with inspection expectations. From QC documentation and proficiency testing to corrective actions and quality monitors, attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how quality is evaluated across the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing. This session will highlight why inspection readiness depends on consistent documentation and follow-through, as opposed to simply maintaining written policies. Jump to: 00:00 Introduction 03:15 Why Laboratory Quality Matters 06:30 Building an Effective Laboratory Quality Management System 11:45 Laboratory Quality Metrics and Documentation 18:40 What Inspectors Look for During CLIA and CAP Inspections 24:30 Patient Tracers and Risk Management Strategies 31:20 Beyond Compliance: Creating a Culture of Quality 39:00 Common Laboratory Quality Deficiencies 47:10 How to Align Quality Programs with Daily Operations 54:15 Inspection Readiness Best Practices 58:00 How to Choose Meaningful Laboratory Quality Indicators This session is designed for: -Lab Owners and Stakeholders -Lab Managers -Quality Supervisors -Pathologists -Lab Consultants -Bench-Level Scientists and Techs