GENERAL INFORMATION

Objectives: 
 
1. To evaluate the performance of laboratories for cytopathology and to monitor laboratories continuing performance.
2. To educate participating laboratories based on the outcomes of this quality assurance program.

Specific details:
1. MSOC QAP is provided by Malaysian Society Of Cytology (MSOC).

2. The coordinator of MSOC QAP is Dr. Noorasmaliza Md Paiman and Dato’ Norain Karim is the advisor. This program is run by a group of senior pathologists appointed by President of MSOC.

3. For year 2018, Innovz Sdn Bhd (893484-X) is appointed as the subcontractor to solely involve in slide digitization and DVDs/pendrives distribution to subscribers of the program.

4. The President  of MSOC in consultation with advisor for MSOC QAP, will select the expert committee members; the individuals who are experts in cytopathology, for slide vetting.
5. Proposed timeline
Cycle 1 : Jan-June each year.
Cycle 2 : July-Dec each year.
 
6. MSOC QAP is only open for laboratories providing cytopathology service and is subscribed on an “individual laboratory” basis.
 
7. A total of 25 laboratories providing cytopathology service in Ministry of Health hospitals and universities in Malaysia are expected to be participants of this cycle of program.
​
8. There are two cycles per year, i.e. April/May and September/October cycles, for MSOC QAP. Each cycle comprises
(1) DVDs/pendrives distribution
(2) A month long result submission online
(3) Evaluation reports to individual laboratory a month after the deadline of result submission
 
9. For each cycle, there are 10-14 digitized slides to be viewed which consist of 6 Gynae module slides (3 conventional and 3 LBC slides) and 4 general module slides (2 FNA and 2 Nongynae slides).
 
10. The participating laboratory is required to provide most appropriate diagnoses for all digitized slides viewed on personal computers upon receiving the DVDs/pendrives. For Gynae module, the information on smear adequacy, presence of endocervical cells and recommendation are not necessary.
 
11. The subscription fee for two cycles per year is RM1000 per laboratory (RM500 per cycle). The fee for April/May (first) cycle 2017 is waived by MSOC as this is for trial purposes. Therefore, the fee that the subscribing lab needs to pay for 2018 is only RM500.00 for the Sept/Oct cycle 2018.
 

12. The participating laboratory is required to submit the diagnoses ONLINE via www.mymsoc.org. Only the latest diagnoses submitted before deadline will be accepted as the final diagnoses of a particular laboratory. A validation code particularly designed for each participating laboratory has to be submitted together with the diagnoses. This code is given once the lab subscribes to the program.
 
13. For each case, there is a targeted diagnosis based on consensus agreement by a panel of practicing pathologists.14. MSOC QAP program provides a platform via the evaluation reports to compare and identify diagnostic insufficiency based on the outcomes of submitted diagnoses and targeted diagnoses.
 
15. In the evaluation reports of each cycle, the targeted diagnosis for each case is provided, followed by a tabulated list of diagnoses submitted by participating laboratories and followed by discussion and possible differential diagnoses on the case.
 
16. Evaluation of performance of each laboratory is conducted by participating laboratory by comparing own submitted diagnoses with the diagnoses provided in the evaluation reports. Evaluation of performance shall be the responsibility of each participating laboratory.
 
17. Details regarding individual laboratory will be de-identified from the evaluation reports. Diagnoses submitted from a particular laboratory will be kept confidential. These diagnoses will be discarded 6 months after completion of each cycle.
 
18. The slides contributed by the respective centres will be kept safely in a locked cabinet in Cytology Unit Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar. These slides will be returned to the owner 3 months after completion of the 2nd cycle each year.
 
19. The identity of participating laboratories shall be confidential and known only to persons involved in the operation of this MSOC QAP scheme.
 
20. All information supplied by a participant to the MSOC scheme shall be treated as confidential.
 
21. When an interested party requires the diagnoses submitted by a particular laboratory to be directly provided by MSOC, the participating lab shall be made aware of the arrangement in advance and a written request shall be submitted to the MSOC, which includes evidence of agreement of the participating laboratory to the arrangement.
 
22. In exceptional circumstances, when a regulatory authority requires diagnoses submitted by a particular laboratory to be directly provided to the authority by MSOC, the affected participating laboratory shall be notified of this action in writing.