This course is meant to provide in depth knowledge to learners on important elements surrounding quality management in the laboratory. The course focuses on issues that bounders on credibility and reliability of laboratory results. The course further runs through understanding and implementation of the requirement of necessary standards related to testing and calibration laboratories. 

One of the major purpose of laboratories regardless of their scope, is to generate results which are used in decision making. As a results, laboratory results need to be credible and reliable. Laboratory quality management system (QMS) play an important role in ensuring that all processes and components involved in testing or calibration are systematically managed. Implementation of QMS in a laboratory can lead to certification or accreditation. An accredited laboratory demonstrate that it can produce accurate, high-quality results on a consistent basis. In other words, establishment and implementation of a QMS in compliance with the ISO 17025 is accepted as optimal approach to assure quality in testing and calibration laboratories. Having competently trained personnel in quality management in the laboratory is not only essential but a critical tool for laboratory accreditation.

This course is designed to equip laboratory personnel with contextual knowledge of quality management and how to implement it in their respective organisations.

To provide skills and knowledge to leaners on quality management for testing and calibration laboratories and its implementation.

At the end of the program Learners should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge the elements of ISO 17025, good laboratory practice and its implementation.
2. Demonstrate practical knowledge and skill on how quality assurance and quality control are organised and conducted in the laboratory.
3. Demonstrate understanding on measurement traceability in the laboratory.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of estimation of measurement uncertainty in laboratory measurements. 
5. Demonstrate understanding of method validation
6. Demonstrate knowledge on how to conduct laboratory audits

1. knowledge on ISO 17025
2. implementation of QMS
3. Performing laboratory quality control/quality assurance
4. Good laboratory practice
5. Error or Uncertainty estimation in measurements
6. Laboratory method validation
7. Data analysis
8. Laboratory quality audit

The candidate must possess a minimum of grade 12 certificate and working /planning to work in a laboratory.

Intensive 3 weeks of lectures, hands-on practical and tutorials sessions

Upon successful completion the candidates will be awarded a certificate in laboratory quality management and a grade appended to the certificate. This qualification will only apply to a student who passes the final exam and completes the assignment or quizzes.

1. Statistics as a tool in quality management
2. Quality standards
3. Quality Assurance/Quality control
4. Measurement Traceability
5. Uncertainty
6. Method Validation

1. Lecture using virtual classrooms
2. Practical hands-on online tutorials using virtual whiteboards
3. Assessments using ICT technologies
4. Zoom and Mulungushi University Moodle interactive software

Time: 09hrs to 13hrs every day

1. Assignment 10%
2. Quizzes 30%
3. Exam 60%

Mulungushi University certificate will be provided