The Full Form of QAP is‍ Quality Assurance Program.

A QA program assures laboratory management and project investigators that documented standards for the quality for facilities, equipment, personnel training, and work performance are being attained, and if not, to identify and report the areas that need improvement to meet those standards. A laboratory’s QA program should be described in the laboratory’s quality management plan (QMP). The QMP should describe the laboratory’s policy for management system reviews, quality control and data quality objectives, QA project plans, standard operating procedures, training, procurement of items and services, documentation, computer hardware and software, planning and implementation of project work, assessment and response, and corrective action and continuous improvement. A QA system should consist of a minimum of six components, namely:

1.

A formal Work/QA Project Plan that describes all work, QA, and quality-control activities associated with a project is developed for each study.

2.

Up-to-date standard operating procedures (SOPs) that describe all technical activities conducted by the laboratory.

3.

A program to ensure and document that all project personnel are fully trained and qualified to perform project activities before independent activities may begin. Personnel training records should be maintained by the QA unit and should include records of qualifications, prior experience, professional training, and internal training procedures.

4.

A documentation and records system that facilitates full sample and data tracking.

5.

A quality assessment program for all projects, conducted through management system reviews, technical system audits, performance evaluation samples, data validation, laboratory inspections, and independent data audits. An independent QA unit within a laboratory should conduct the latter two activities.

6.

A continuous improvement program, facilitated through quality assurance audits; a formal corrective action program; and routine, laboratory-wide performance assessments and reviews.