HKIMLSQAP (founded 1990)

The health service in Hong Kong has long leaned upon overseas systems and has none of its own which has been criticized in the Editorial of the prominent Medical Journal "The Lancet" volume 322, the February issue of 1990.

Foreseeing this imperfection, a consortium of enthusiastic and energetic practicing medical laboratory professionals assembled in the late 1988. They studied the feasibility of establishing a local Quality Assurance Programme to promote the quality and standard of medical laboratory techniques, examine the comparability of analytical methodologies and help rectify technical problems among medical laboratories in Hong Kong. Upon completion of the research for nearly two years, Hong Kong Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences Quality Assurance Programme Ltd. (HKIMLSQAP), formerly Hong Kong Medical Technology Association Quality Assurance Programme, was launched as the first ever run indigenous programme in Hong Kong in February 1990.

Organization

HKIMLSQAP is manned and administered by a council of 16 office-bearers including the chairman, secretaries, treasurer and panel heads and deputy panel heads of the six specialties currently offered. Each specialty panel is made up of experienced professionals in the field. All appointments are under a non-remunerated and voluntary basis. A full-time staff is employed to assist the operation in the rented office at Flat 1711, Floor 17, Block C, Bell House, 525-543 Nathan Road, Kowloon.

Currently, there are six specialties: Anatomical Pathology, Haematology and Serology, Medical Microbiology, Clinical Chemistry jointly organized with Bio-Rad EQAS, Acid-Fast Bacillus Smear Examination and Virus Serology in collaboration with Tuberculosis Laboratory and Virus Division, respectively, of Public Health Laboratory Services Branch, Department of Health. In co-operation with Hong Kong College of Pathologists, HKIMLSQAP offers Interpretative Quality Assurance Programme in Clinical Microbiology and Haematology in 1996 and 2006, respectively. There are more than 80 medical laboratories from Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China participating to over 230 subjects among six specialties.

Panel members are recruited from eminent medical laboratory technologists, scientists and pathologists practicing in public and private sectors. The Panel Heads are given high degree of freedom and autonomy to run the specialties. They are responsible for the administration, development, data processing, statistical analysis and generation of the survey reports. Distinguished professionals are also invited to give comments and advice to specialty panels for improvement.

Finance

HKIMLSQAP is non-profit making and was monetarily supported by Hong Kong Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences Ltd., formerly Hong Kong Medical Technology Association (founded 1966). At present, HKIMLSQAP is basically self-financed by annual subscriptions at nominal amount levied from participating laboratories.

Confidentiality

Each participant is assigned with a laboratory code. This code is the only identity for communication between the participant and HKIMLSQAP. The key to decipher the identities of participants is limited to few authorized members of HKIMLSQAP Council. Details of participants are not released to any persons or bodies under any circumstances. HKIMLSQAP Council members are forbidden to release any data to any outsiders.

World Health Organisation (WHO) Participation

HKIMLSQAP has participated in the International External Quality Assurance Scheme (IEQAS) of WHO. As participation is on the national basis, we have the honour and privilege to represent Hong Kong in this Scheme. At present we have joined the IEQAS in the specialties of clinical chemistry, coagulation, haematology and malarial parasite examination.

Last update on 14 August 2008