NEWSLETTER: March 2026
Skylims QC insights Part 2: How can I see the status of my QC?
Edition 4
5-minute read
In our July 2025 edition, we introduced the Skylims QC Dashboard and its four categories. In this edition, we show you how the dashboard answers the question of QC status at a glance by bringing your entire QC status into a single view. By using the dashboard, you can quickly determine if your QC plan is on track or needs attention.
THE SKYLIMS QC DASHBOARD
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| QC Review Overdue | Reviews not done within the set window |
| QC Lot Expiration | Lots expired or nearing expiry |
| QC Rule Violations | Analytes with flagged rule alerts |
| Run Frequency Exceeded | QC runs that are overdue |
Any flagged category means a gap in your QC status picture. The goal is zero flags across all four.
1. QC Review Overdue
Giving LJ graphs the attention they need
This category flags every Control group whose Levey-Jennings graph has not been reviewed within the window your lab has configured.
Without regular review, gradual drift can go unnoticed for weeks. The flag tells you that a review is overdue before that drift becomes a rejection.
ISO 15189:2022 requires that IQC results are evaluated at defined intervals. A missed review could be a missed opportunity to correct a developing trend.
What it tells you
🔹 Which Control groups are overdue for review
🔹 How many review cycles have been missed
🔹 Which analytes have never been reviewed since configuration
Status: Review not done = Incomplete QC picture
💡 Quick Tip:
Use the 'Jump to' function from the QC dashboard to open the Review Report for the flagged control group directly. Record the review and the flag clears. The configured review window determines how often each analyte must be reviewed.
2. QC Lot Expiration
Managing lot changes
What it tells you
| Lot Status | Action |
|---|---|
| Lots already expired | Action immediately |
| Lots nearing expiry | Action soon |
Status: Expired lot in use = QC results are invalid
Using expired controls is one of the most common accreditation findings, because it is invisible without active monitoring. Failing to act on expiring lots can lead to invalid QC data, result delays, and potential non-compliance findings during accreditation audits.
This category provides a real-time view of the lots that require action and helps you to proactively manage them before they become a problem.
CLSI C24 guideline recommends that laboratories verify new QC lot acceptability before use by testing the new lot alongside the current in-use lot. Simply receiving a new lot is not sufficient; parallel run data must confirm performance before the old lot is inactivated.
QC Rule Violations
When QC results don’t behave as expected
The Rule Violation section of the dashboard displays analytes that have triggered a configured QC rule, filterable by instrument, rule type, violation severity and time range. It signals that something may have changed, and possibly that patient results generated around the time of the violation need to be considered.
What to do when a violation appears on the dashboard
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| Violation detected | Rule alert on dashboard. Do not repeat until pass – Investigate root cause first |
| Correct the cause | Recalibrate / maintain |
| Re-run QC | Confirm instrument stable |
| Assess patient results | Back to last valid QC |
The last step is the one most often skipped. ISO 15189:2022 requires that patient samples since the last acceptable QC event are evaluated before results are released.
💡 Quick Tip:
Skylims supports various configurable rules including Westgard rules, and each rule can be configured as a Warning, Rejection or Action. Rule sets are applied per control setup, giving you the flexibility to tailor sensitivity to each analyte's clinical risk.
Chem Code Run Frequency Exceeded
Late with the QC run, again?!
Your QC plan specifies when QC must be run for each analyte. This category flags every chem code where that schedule has not been met. It is the earliest warning that your QC plan is falling behind before a missed run becomes a compliance gap.
A complete QC plan must include the run frequency for each analyte. Monitoring this category ensures you stay on schedule across all instruments and shifts.
What it tells you
🔹 Which chem codes are overdue for a QC run
🔹 How far behind the configured schedule you are
🔹 Which instruments/ shifts are falling short
Status: Run overdue = QC coverage gap
💡 Quick Tip:
Run frequency is set per Chem code per Control in the Skylims QC configuration. The dashboard flags any chem code that has exceeded its configured interval, giving you a clear view of QC coverage without having to check each analyte individually.
What a healthy QC dashboard looks like
✔ Reviews up to date
✔ No expired lots
✔ No open violations
✔ All runs on schedule
Zero flags across all four categories means your QC status is clear.
You can now answer the question with confidence.
Coming up in our next issue
In our next issue, we focus on QC configuration, relating your QC results back to your patients and we start linking everything back to what you need for your next audit. We hope you are as excited as us for the next edition!
Need help with your QC configuration?
Contact the Mukon team to assist you and provide expert guidance:
Email: support@mukon.co.za
Tel: 012 450 0240
Quick Survey: Share your QC insights!
How are you currently monitoring your QC? Take 2 minutes to let us know. Responses are anonymous and help us shape future content and product improvements:
QC Insights Survey - Fill out form
Mukon Team News
🔹 We said goodbye to one of our Mukon family members, William, who closed the chapter of his life with Mukon after 2 years. While we are sad to see him go, we are so incredibly excited for him and the new adventure he’s about to begin. We wish you all the best, William!
🔹 We are welcoming a new addition to the Mukon family! Marnine has joined our team of expert analysts who deliver advanced support and guidance to our clients. Her background in laboratory environments, combined with experience in both IT and business analysis brings a valuable blend of skills that will further strengthen our team.
We hope you enjoyed this newsletter!
Warm regards,
The Mukon Team
References
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ISO 15189:2022. Medical Laboratories: Requirements for Quality and Competence. Clauses 6.6.3, 7.3.7.2, 7.3.7.3.
https://www.iso.org/standard/76677.html -
SANAS. F 243-02: Technical Requirements for Medical Laboratories and Blood Transfusion Facilities (ISO 15189:2022). 2023.
https://www.sanas.co.za/Publications%20and%20Manuals%20Files/F%20243-02.pdf -
CLSI. Statistical Quality Control for Quantitative Measurement Procedures. 4th ed. CLSI guideline C24. CLSI; 2016.
https://clsi.org/media/1365/c24ed4_sample.pdf -
Gruber L, Hausch A, Mueller T. Internal Quality Controls in the Medical Laboratory. Diagnostics. 2024;14(19):2223.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11475633/ -
Westgard JO et al. A multi-rule Shewhart chart for quality control in clinical chemistry. Clin Chem. 1981;27(3):493-501.