The accuracy and reliability of medical diagnostic test results play a pivotal role in effective disease diagnosis, treatment decisions, and patient prognosis. In respect to this the Health Community of West Africa Association in collaboration its dignified French partners the Association of Biomedical Engineers from Côte d’Ivoire, (ABIO CI) jointly co-organized a webinar to educate health professionals in Efficient Medical Equipment Calibration.
Held on 6th February, 2026 via zoom, the webinar shed light on the growing use of Artificial Intelligence to automate and verify the accuracy of calibration procedures for diagnostic and therapeutic devices.Speakers at the webinar included Dr. Yang, CEO of Canyu Tech, who delivered an insightful presentation emphasizing the rigorous, multi-layered quality assurance systems that underpin trustworthy laboratory testing.
Modern medical laboratories implement a comprehensive whole-process quality control system spanning pre-analysis, analysis, and post-analysis phases. Pre-analysis quality control often the most error-prone stage focuses on patient preparation (e.g., proper fasting or medication pauses), correct specimen collection using appropriate containers and anticoagulants, timely and temperature-controlled transportation, and initial laboratory checks for issues like hemolysis or clotting. Unqualified specimens are rejected to prevent inaccurate results.
During the analytical phase, laboratories adhere to standardized operating procedures (SOPs), maintain and calibrate instruments regularly, validate new reagents, and conduct daily indoor quality control (IQC) using known-concentration control materials. Results are plotted on Levey-Jennings charts and evaluated with rules like Westgard criteria. Out of control results halt patient reporting until issues (e.g., reagent or operator errors) are resolved. Staff competency is ensured through certification, ongoing training, and assessments.
Post-analysis involves senior review for clinical reasonableness, immediate reporting of critical values (e.g., extreme potassium levels), and explanations to support clinical interpretation. External oversight strengthens reliability through External Quality Assessment (EQA) or Proficiency Testing (PT), where unknown samples from national bodies are tested blindly and compared across labs. Laboratory accreditation to ISO 15189 the international standard for medical laboratory quality and competence represents the gold standard, required for many top-tier facilities (including in China’s Grade III hospitals) and enabling global mutual recognition. Administrative inspections further enforce compliance.
Dr. Yang highlighted that credible test reports stem from this integrated internal-external system: daily IQC, regular EQA participation, and ISO 15189 audits. Patients are advised to prioritize accredited hospitals or independent labs, interpret results alongside clinical symptoms (accounting for biological variation and measurement uncertainty), and consult clinicians for comprehensive diagnosis. Retesting at different accredited sites can resolve doubts.
This presentation underscores the scientific rigor behind modern diagnostics, fostering greater trust in laboratory medicine across regions like West Africa through international collaborations and best practices.
President of ABIO-CI, BROU Yao Léopold, a Biomedical Engineer also expressed sincere gratitude to Health Community of West Africa Association and its Chinese partners for organizing such an impactful webinar which will go a long way to enhance healthcare in the West African sub region. Arrangements are underway for more of such training projects as the Health Community of West Africa Association is passionate about projects that enhance healthcare.
