A simple approach to create a common language, a necessary element for the development of a quality culture in a medical biology laboratory

Abstract

The order no. 2010-49 of January13, 2010 has made the accreditation of medical biology laboratories in France mandatory. It is based on international standards: NF EN ISO 15189 for medical biology laboratories and NF EN ISO 22870 for point-of-care testing. The NF EN ISO 15189:2012 standard is an adaptation of the requirements relating to the quality management system according to the ISO 9001:2008 standard, to improve delivery performance. As a company's performance is closely linked to its quality culture, the establishment and development of a quality culture within a company appears fundamental. The purpose of this article is to explain how to create a common language on which to base the development of quality culture within a medical biology laboratory. It is a simple approach which consists in asking 3 questions concerning quality management to the members of the team of this laboratory (what do you value? what emotions give you these values? what do you not value?) then to organize the answers in a reference frame for quality management.