Title: A guide on internal quality control and quality assurance for Tanzania - National Fish Quality Control Laboratory

Results from laboratories are important to facilitate import and export of goods including food. It is therefore of prime importance that the laboratory is capable of performing its tasks and accreditation is one way of determining that. The ISO 17025 standard describes the “general requirements for the competence of calibration and testing laboratories”. Internal quality control and quality assurance routines play a major role for the quality of results. The National Fish Quality Control Laboratory (NFQCL) in the Lake Victoria Zone is working towards achieving an accreditation of its quality system in accordance with the ISO 17025 standard. The purpose of this study is to identify and obtain experience in IQC and QA routines. For that purpose a list of internal QC/QA routines were established and quality control charts were applied to follow the trends of microbiological results. To obtain analytical measurements and results that are fit for this purpose, samples must be collected and handled correctly. The measurement methods must be validated and effectively controlled, suitable calibration and control standards must be used and all personnel involved in the analytical activities must be qualified and competently trained. Microbiological examinations on total plate counts, coliform organisms, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes were performed. Samples were spiked with pure strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. Spiking was done to increase the possibility to follow the test methods from the start to the end to fulfil the validation of methods and procedures. The QC/QA routines listed and the experience gained will benefit the work of building a quality system at the NFQLC in Tanzania.