Factors Influencing the Quality of Medical Laboratory Services in Sawani bin Adam, Libya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36602/jsba.2026.21.72Keywords:
Medical Laboratory Service, blood analysis, Swani bin Adam, Libya, Quality factorsAbstract
Quality medical laboratory services are very important for effective healthcare delivery, as medical decisions depend on the accuracy and reliability of laboratory test results. In many developing countries, including Libya, laboratory quality management systems remain limited due to the structural and organizational challenges. This study aimed to assess the factors influencing the quality of medical laboratory test results and to evaluate laboratory service quality in Sawani bin Adam, Libya. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2024 across 22 medical laboratories. Data were collected from 208 laboratory staff using a questionnaire to gather data and identify factors affecting service quality. 100 blood samples from 20 healthy volunteers were analyzed in four local laboratories and one reference laboratory (Abu Salim Trauma Hospital). The findings showed no significant differences in most test results among laboratories, except for White Blood Cell (WBC) count. Most participants 80.8% were aged between 20–30 years, 63% were laboratory technologists and 86.5% worked in public laboratories. Notably, 61.5% of respondents reported that external quality assessment programs were not implemented. About half of participants indicated inadequate service quality, while 58.2% agreed about the absence of customer service management, mainly due to limited resources and poor management. The study identified many factors affecting to quality laboratory, including the lack of standard operating procedures, limited professional development, insufficient supplies, weak quality assessment systems, and inadequate safety measures. The implementing of international laboratory quality standards as part of national policy is recommended to improve laboratory quality and performance in Libya.
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