The VLA Quality Assurance System is brought to you by Timeless Veterinary Systems Inc. in conjunction with the Atlantic Veterinary College. The Quality Assurance System allows the VLA Quality Assurance Program to validate diagnostic methods, pre-processing sample handling and data collection in veterinary laboratories. Users, mainly laboratory professionals, complete quarterly worksheets for laboratory test modules: chemistry, hematology, endocrinology, serology, bacteriology, parasitology, histopathology, therapeutic drug monitoring and urinalysis by analyzing a standardized animal derived test sample or virtual image. The quarterly results are tabulated and statistically generated reports compare each user against all user submissions. In addition, the results are statistically generated for each peer method and instrument. All results are strictly confidential and user information is not included in the released reports. Only the user who submitted the worksheet and the evaluators of the program are able to see the results for individual users.

The secure web-based system provides an easy, automated method of receiving and storing accurate diagnostic test data collected by global users in a timely and efficient manner. This system improves issues caused by delays in receiving test data as well as errors caused by manual test data recording. Once test data is input into this system, it can be edited, saved, reviewed, re-edited, downloaded to a PDF and/or printed.

The Veterinary Laboratory Association Quality Assurance Program (VQAP) is an external proficiency program specially designed for veterinary laboratories and hospitals to provide a confidential means of comparing your laboratory's internal test results to those of your peers in the veterinary field. The program, provided by the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), offers:

1. Customized, professional reports that let you know where you stand in relation to your peers.
2. A great way to monitor your sample analysis.
3. Quarterly tracking of your method and instrument performance.

For more information about the Veterinary Laboratory Association Quality Assurance Program (VQAP) please contact Ashley Good by phone at (902) 566-0990 or by email at qap-avc@upei.ca.