Performance indicators in an animal diagnostic laboratory

The use of quality indicators has been encouraged in laboratories to improve the qualification and quantification of errors in different laboratory processes, as well as to help implement corrective and preventive measures and indicate the effectiveness of the actions taken. This work aims to evaluate performance indicators during the years 2015 and 2016 in an animal diagnostic laboratory located in Belém, Pará state. Therefore, four laboratory performance indicators were used: number of laboratory outreach actions to the public; temporal performance; percentage of accredited tests; and percentage of execution of the training plan. All tests offered by the laboratory are accredited under ABNT NBR ISO/IEC 17025:2005. It was found that there were no laboratory outreach actions in 2015; however, in 2016, seven outreach actions took place in different states of Brazil. The number of samples with test reports delivered to clients within the stipulated timeframe decreased by 1.5% between 2015 (92.7%) and 2016 (91.2%). The percentage of staff trained was zero in 2015 (0%) and very low in 2016 (16.7%). It is concluded that the laboratory under study presents good indicators of temporal performance and accreditation, but should focus on continuous improvement of future actions to publicize the institution and on staff training in order to fully meet the strategic planning of the organization.