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You may also want to look at Dr. Westgard's Essay page, which lists all the essays he's written for the website for the last ten years.

Or you may want to look at the Westgard Catalog to see the books, software, and other services that Westgard QC offers. Or just scroll down...

Basic QC Practices, 2^nd Edition

Praised by every reviewer as an essential reference, the Basic QC Practices manual is a plain-language explanation of the nuts and bolts of quality control. Extensively illustrated with over 120 charts, tables, and graphs.

This book covers the fundamentals of Levey-Jennings charts, "Westgard Rules", and trouble-shooting. But it also addresses Point-of-Care Testing and Physician Office labs; Electronic QC and the Total Testing Process; External Quality Assurance, Proficiency Testing and Peer Comparison; What's the "State of the Art" of QC?; What's in the future for laboratory QC.

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Basic Method Validation, 2^nd Edition

Using everyday examples (buying a car, picking tools from a toolbox, weighing yourself on a scale), Dr. Westgard explains how and why you perform a method validation study. All the basic experiments are covered and each is discussed in detail, from the number of specimens, to what problems to look for, and most importantly, what the numbers mean once you're finally done.

Specific laboratory examples are discussed and an entire chapter is devoted to the latest requirements of CLIA Final Rules, JCAHO, CAP (including the new AMR and CRR concepts), COLA and other accrediting organizations.

This book also provides simple descriptions of the proper use of statistics; an exclusive Six Sigma Method Decision tool; discussion of Deming and Passing-Bablock regression; and an analysis of the new ISO guidelines for laboratories.

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CLIA Final Rules for Quality Systems

When CLIA published the "Final Rules", followed by the expanded Interpretive Guidelines in the State Inspector's Manual. These latest regulations have truly changed the landscape of the healthcare laboratory.

New method validation requirements have altered the responsibilities of laboratories and manufacturers.

New guidelines for "equivalent QC procedures" challenge the laboratory to take responsibility for the quality of testing.

With new regulations compounded by new interpretive guidelines, questions remain and confusion reigns.

The CLIA Final Rules manual will help you identify the impact of the regulations on your laboratory. More than just a compliance manual, this book will help you realign your quality control for the new laboratory economy.

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Basic Planning for Quality

A practical introduction to the management and planning of quality control. Probably the world's only book on laboratory quality taught by a viking.

With the aid of cartoons and over 60 illustrations, Dr. Westgard explains the techniques needed for proper quality management. CLIA requirements, JCAHO guidelines, CLSI methodologies and QC practice guidelines are also discussed.

More than 20 quality-planning examples are graphically demonstrated, covering applications for automated chemistry, blood gas, immunoassay, and coagulation tests.

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Nothing but the Truth about Quality

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY CALLUM FRASER, NOTED EXPERT ON BIOLOGIC VARIATION

The Collected Wisdom and Advice of an International Expert on laboratory quality management

With the help of Dilbert cartoons, Dr. James O. Westgard, PhD, outspoken advocate for better quality in healthcare laboratories and creator of the "Westgard Rules", presents a collection of essential writings on quality. These essays, many of them originally published on Westgard Web, cover topics ranging from Six Sigma to Diabetes, Cholesterol to hs-CRP, Enron to Firestone, NCEP to the CLIA Final Rule, ISO uncertainty to Evidence-Based Medicine. Together, they provide you with a broad and in-depth analysis and perspective on current quality management practices and the need for improvements.

A No-Holds Barred Look at the State of Quality in Healthcare Laboratories

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Assuring the Right Quality Right

The laboratory has entered a new era of uncertainty.

Today's Laboratory Manager faces a bewildering array of laws, guidelines, and standards. Are you going to be able to read all the CLIA Final Rules, EQC protocols and options, CLSI guidelines, ISO standards, Risk Management formulas, Patient Safety Goals and the accreditation and inspection checklists and procedures? If you can, congratulations. You're probably the only one.

For the rest of us, there's Assuring the Right Quality Right. This compact manual provides a practical "crosswalk" of all the regulatory documents and management trends, noting areas of convergence and zones of confusion. But more important than that, Dr. James O. Westgard devotes his expert judgment to providing concrete, realistic recommendations. If you're looking for a source of Best Laboratory Practices that will also fulfill compliance needs, look no further.

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Six Sigma Quality Design & Control

Revised, Updated. Expanded. Essential.

Six Sigma Quality is an advanced technique of improving processes and profitability that has revolutionized industries across America and around the world. In this book, Dr. Westgard shows you how to apply the Six Sigma techniques to laboratory testing processes.

Dr. Westgard introduces Six Sigma methods and metrics, describes the tools and technology available for Six Sigma in the laboratory, and then illustrates the impact of Six Sigma for multitest automated systems, cardiac markers in a POC setting, new-born screening, and patient data for laboratory QC. In the last section, Dr. Westgard discusses obstacles and obstacles in implementing Six Sigma Quality Management.

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