Laboratory quality assurance at the international level: the role of nongovernmental organizations.

A wide range of nongovernmental organizations are involved in laboratory quality assurance at the international level. These organizations include for-profit organizations such as Murex or Randox, nonprofit organizations such as the Institute for Standardization and Documentation in Medical Laboratories (INSTAND), national professional organizations such as the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS), regional organizations such as the Asian Pacific and Latin American Federation of Clinical Biochemists and International organizations such as the IFCC and WHO. The Interaction and roles of such organizations are discussed.