Using patient samples for diagnostic quality control introduces significant yet often unrecognized costs and risks. The preparation and long-term storage of these materials can be complex and highly variable, depending on the assay and sample type. Procuring suitable specimens may require extensive trial and error to ensure they fall within the correct analytical range, increasing labor demands and the potential for error. Third-party reference materials provide the standardization and reliability missing in patient samples. By reducing workflow variability, enhancing assay reproducibility, and enabling earlier…
