What is the purpose of a performance audit in a certified lab?

The purpose of a performance audit in a certified lab is primarily to ensure compliance with testing standards. This involves assessing the lab’s adherence to established protocols and regulatory requirements that govern testing procedures. Compliance is essential for maintaining accreditation and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of test results, which ultimately affects public health and safety.

By executing a performance audit, the lab evaluates its processes, documentation, and results against the set standards. This means reviewing methodologies, testing practices, and quality control measures to confirm that they meet required specifications. Ensuring compliance helps protect the integrity of the laboratory's testing outputs, fostering trust in the results provided to clients and regulatory bodies.

While increasing employee productivity, verifying equipment functionality, and preparing for inspections are important aspects of lab management, they do not encapsulate the primary goal of a performance audit. These elements may be components of broader operational assessments, but the core focus of a performance audit is strictly to ensure the lab's adherence to the applicable testing standards.