This is a companion article to the feature, “Elevating Quality.”

When it comes to developing and implementing an individualized quality control plan (IQCP) for their clinical laboratory, one thing that laboratory leaders are not lacking is resources to guide their efforts. Below is a short handlist of guidelines and related materials that can help labs get started.

Accepted: revisions related to IQCP option for clinical laboratories. Joint Commission Perspectives. 2015;35(8):4–8. Available at: www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/revisions_iqcp_option_clinical_laboratories.pdf. Accessed August 9, 2015.

Bruno L. CMS standards: microbiology tests that do not need IQCP [presentation slides]. New Orleans: American Society for Microbiology, 2015. Available at: http://clinmicro.asm.org/images/archive/iqcp-cms%20microbiology%20tests%20not%20needing%20iqcp.pdf. Accessed August 8, 2015.

Bruno L. IQCP: guidelines and template for getting started [presentation slides]. New Orleans: American Society for Microbiology, 2015. Available at: http://clinmicro.asm.org/images/archive/bruno_asm_iqcp%20symposium%20gm%202015.pdf. Accessed August 8, 2015.

Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, Survey & Certification Group. Individualized quality control plan (IQCP): a new quality control (QC) option. [online] Baltimore: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2013. Available at: http://www.cms.gov/medicare/provider-enrollment-and-certification/surveycertificationgeninfo/downloads/survey-and-cert-letter-13-54.pdf. Accessed August 9, 2015.

Clarification: Joint Commission expectations during IQCP education and transition period. Lab Focus. 2014;1:1. Available at: www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/23/Lab_Focus_Issue_One_2014.pdf. Accessed August 9, 2015.

Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. A practical guide for laboratory quality control based on risk management; workbook. CLSI document EP23-A WB. Wayne, Pa: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, 2011.

Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Laboratory quality control based on risk management; approved guideline. CLSI document EP23-A. Wayne, Pa: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, 2011.

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Brochure #4: equivalent quality control procedures. Baltimore, Md: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, n.d. Available at: www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/legislation/clia/clia_brochures.html. Accessed August 1, 2015.

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Brochure #11: individualized quality control plan introduction. Baltimore: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2013. Available at: www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/legislation/clia/downloads/cliabrochure11.pdf. Accessed August 7, 2015.

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Brochure #12: considerations when deciding to develop an IQCP. Baltimore: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2014. Available at: www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/legislation/clia/downloads/cliabrochure12.pdf. Accessed August 7, 2015.

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Brochure #13: What is an IQCP? Baltimore: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2014. Available at: www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/legislation/clia/downloads/cliabrochure13.pdf. Accessed August 7, 2015.

Developing an IQCP: A step-by-step guide. Baltimore: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2015. Available at: www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/legislation/clia/downloads/iqcp-workbook.pdf. Accessed August 7, 2015.

Individualized quality control plan (IQCP): implementation guide. Columbia, Md: COLA Resources Inc, 2013.

Individualized quality control plan (IQCP) webinars. [online] Hercules, Calif: Bio-Rad Laboratories, 2013–2015. Available at: http://qcnet.com/iqcp/index.html. Accessed August 8, 2015.

Individualized quality control plan: frequently asked questions. [online] Northfield, Ill: College of American Pathologists, 2015. Available at: http://j.mp/iqcp_faqs. Accessed August 7, 2015.

Malone B. A new approach to quality control: how can risk management help labs? Clin Lab News. 2011;37(11).

Medicare state operations manual provider certification. [online] Baltimore: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2004. Available at: www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/guidance/transmittals/downloads/r32som.pdf. Accessed August 8, 2015.

Paxton A. IQCP worries: help with what ends and begins. CAP Today. July 2015. Available at: http://www.captodayonline.com/iqcp-worries-help-ends-begins. Accessed August 7, 2015.

Proposed CAP checklist requirements for IQCP. [online] Northfield, Ill: College of American Pathologists, 2015. Available at: http://j.mp/iqcp_checklistreqs. Accessed August 7, 2015.

Sharp S. Individualized quality control plan [presentation slides]. New Orleans: American Society for Microbiology, 2015. Available at: http://clinmicro.asm.org/images/archive/sharp_asm_iqcp%20symposium%20gm%202015.pdf. Accessed August 8, 2015.

State operations manual, appendix C: survey procedures and interpretive guidelines for laboratories and laboratory services. [online] Baltimore: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2015. Available at: www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/legislation/clia/downloads/app-c_survey-procedures-igs-for-labs-labs-svcs-final.pdf. Accessed August 9, 2015.