What is the term for a material used to confirm that a test system is performing consistently?

What is the term for a material used to confirm that a test system is performing consistently?

• A. Control
• B. Calibrator
• C. Analyte
• D. Specimen

Answer: (A)

A control is a material with a known value used to confirm that a test system is performing consistently. Running a control with each batch lets you verify that the assay, instrument, reagents, and procedures are delivering accurate results. The control has established acceptable ranges, and if the result stays within that range, you can trust the patient results from that run. If the control falls outside the limits, it indicates a problem—so the run is unacceptable and should be repeated after troubleshooting potential issues like instrument drift, reagent problems, or operator error. A calibrator serves a different purpose: it helps set or adjust the measurement scale so quantitative results are accurate across a range, rather than continuously verifying ongoing performance. Analyte refers to the substance being measured in the test, and a specimen is the actual patient sample being analyzed.

A control is a material with a known value used to confirm that a test system is performing consistently. Running a control with each batch lets you verify that the assay, instrument, reagents, and procedures are delivering accurate results. The control has established acceptable ranges, and if the result stays within that range, you can trust the patient results from that run. If the control falls outside the limits, it indicates a problem—so the run is unacceptable and should be repeated after troubleshooting potential issues like instrument drift, reagent problems, or operator error.

A calibrator serves a different purpose: it helps set or adjust the measurement scale so quantitative results are accurate across a range, rather than continuously verifying ongoing performance. Analyte refers to the substance being measured in the test, and a specimen is the actual patient sample being analyzed.