Values are already known in the context of quality control; which item does this refer to?

Values are already known in the context of quality control; which item does this refer to?

• A. QC Samples
• B. Serum
• C. Plasma
• D. Hemolysis

Answer: (A)

In quality control, materials that already have assigned, known target values are used to confirm that the assay is performing correctly. The item described by “values are already known” is QC samples, also called control materials. These are prepared with specific concentrations or ranges for the analytes and are run alongside patient samples to check accuracy and precision, helping detect shifts, bias, or drift in the measurement system. Serum and plasma are just types of specimens whose values vary biologically and over time, not fixed controls with known targets. Hemolysis is a condition that can distort results and is something to flag or avoid, not a prepared control with known values.

In quality control, materials that already have assigned, known target values are used to confirm that the assay is performing correctly. The item described by “values are already known” is QC samples, also called control materials. These are prepared with specific concentrations or ranges for the analytes and are run alongside patient samples to check accuracy and precision, helping detect shifts, bias, or drift in the measurement system. Serum and plasma are just types of specimens whose values vary biologically and over time, not fixed controls with known targets. Hemolysis is a condition that can distort results and is something to flag or avoid, not a prepared control with known values.