Glossary

The table below includes the most common abbreviations, acronyms, and definitions used within the QCMD EQA programmes.

Glossary sections : A - C / D - P / Q - Z

QA	Quality Assurance
QC	Quality Control
QCMD	Quality Control for Molecular Diagnostics
QM	Quality Manual
QMS	Quality Management System
QUALITY	Ability of a set of inherent characteristics of a product, system or process to fulfil requirements of customers and other interested parties.
QUALITY ASSURANCE	Part of quality management, focused on providing confidence that quality requirements are fulfilled.
QUALITY AUDIT	A systematic and independent examination to determine whether quality activities and related results comply with planned arrangements and whether these arrangements are implemented effectively and are suitable to achieve objectives.
QUALITY CONTROL	Part of quality management, focused on fulfilling quality requirements.
QUALITY MANAGEMENT	That aspect of the overall management function that determines and implements the quality policy.
QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM	System to establish a quality policy and quality objectives and to achieve those objectives.
QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REVIEW	A formal evaluation by top management of the status and adequacy of the Quality Management System in relation to quality policy and new objectives resulting from changing circumstances.
QUALITY MANUAL	Document specifying the quality management system of an organisation.
QUALITY POLICY	The overall quality intentions and direction of an organisation as regards quality, as formally expressed by top management.
QUALITY SYSTEM	The organisational structure, responsibilities, procedures, processes and resources for implementing quality management.
SAB	Scientific Advisory Board
SD	Standard Deviation
SLA	Service Level Agreement
SPECIFICATION	The document that describes the requirements with which the product, material or process has to conform.
SUPPLIER	The organisation that provides a product to the customer [EN ISO 8402:1995].
UA	Utility Agreement
VALIDATION	Confirmation and provision of objective evidence that the requirements for a specific intended use or application have been fulfilled.
VERIFICATION	The act of reviewing, inspecting, testing, checking, auditing or otherwise establishing and documenting whether items, processes, services, or documents conform to specified requirements.
WHO	World Health Organisation

Abbreviations, Acronyms & Definitions