What is the purpose of Quality Assurance in a laboratory?

The purpose of Quality Assurance in a laboratory setting is primarily to monitor, verify, and document performance. This process involves implementing systematic activities that ensure the laboratory's operations meet predefined standards and protocols. By focusing on the quality and reliability of data and results, Quality Assurance helps to maintain the integrity of laboratory findings, which is crucial in fields such as digital forensics where accuracy is paramount. Consistently documenting and verifying performance helps identify areas for improvement and ensures adherence to regulatory and ethical standards.

While increasing efficiency, conducting research, and training staff are important aspects of laboratory operations, they do not capture the core function of Quality Assurance, which centers specifically on maintaining and enhancing the quality of processes and outputs. These activities may be part of a broader operational strategy but are not the primary focus of Quality Assurance.