Quality Controls, Calibrators & Standards for Clinical Laboratories
Quality control materials, calibrators and verification standards for hospital, reference and physician-office laboratories - assayed and unassayed controls, multi-analyte calibrators and linearity sets from Bio-Rad, Randox, Technopath and Streck. Grouped by testing discipline: chemistry and toxicology, immunoassay and serology, hematology and coagulation, plus control slides and general multi-analyte controls. Supplied at normal and abnormal levels and matched to analyzer platform and reagent lot. Wholesale case pricing and standing order programs for laboratory materials management, procurement and licensed distributors.
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Quality Control Materials for Clinical and Reference Laboratories
Quality control materials, calibrators and verification standards are the reference products a laboratory uses to confirm that analyzers report accurate, in-control results across every shift and reagent lot. MAP Medical stocks assayed and unassayed controls, multi-analyte calibrators and linearity verification sets from the manufacturers used across hospital, reference and physician-office laboratories, supplied at wholesale case pricing. This category groups the full range by analyzer platform and testing discipline so materials management can consolidate QC purchasing under a single distributor.
Quality Control Subcategories Stocked
- Calibrators & Verification Standards - Calibrators with assigned target values, linearity and calibration verification sets, and analytical measurement range validators used to set and confirm analyzer calibration.
- Immunoassay & Serology Controls - Multi-analyte controls for immunoassay platforms covering thyroid, cardiac, tumor, fertility and infectious-disease serology markers.
- General Quality Controls - Broad multi-analyte and single-analyte controls, urine chemistry controls and whole-blood controls that span more than one testing discipline.
- Chemistry & Toxicology Controls - Clinical chemistry controls, therapeutic drug monitoring controls and urine toxicology and drugs-of-abuse controls at normal and abnormal concentration levels.
- Control Slides - Prepared microscope slides with known positive and negative material used to verify staining, microscopy and microbiology procedures.
- Hematology & Coagulation Controls - Whole-blood hematology controls for CBC analyzers and plasma-based controls for PT/INR, aPTT and specialty coagulation assays.
Control and Calibrator Types by Function
| Product Type | Function | Typical Levels | Representative Brands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assayed controls | Verify precision and accuracy against published target ranges | Normal and abnormal (2-3 levels) | Bio-Rad Liquichek, Randox Acusera |
| Unassayed controls | Verify precision with lab-established ranges | Normal and abnormal | Bio-Rad, Technopath Multichem |
| Calibrators | Set analyzer response using assigned target values | Single or multi-point | Bio-Rad, Randox |
| Linearity / verification sets | Confirm reportable range and calibration validity | 5-6 graded levels | Bio-Rad, Randox |
| Control slides | Verify staining and microscopy workflows | Known positive / negative | Discipline-specific |
Quality control is a recurring, lot-linked consumable line in every accredited laboratory, purchased on standing schedules to match reagent lot changes, proficiency testing cycles and accreditation requirements. Because control and calibrator lots are tied to analyzer platforms and must be held in inventory continuously, materials management teams consolidate these SKUs with a single distributor to control cost and avoid gaps between lot transitions. MAP Medical supports case-quantity purchasing and standing orders across the full quality control range. Order at the best Wholesale Prices with MAP Medical.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between assayed and unassayed controls?
Assayed controls ship with manufacturer-published target values and acceptable ranges for named analyzers and methods, so a laboratory can compare its results directly against the assay sheet. Unassayed controls carry no assigned values, so the laboratory establishes its own mean and range from repeated runs. Assayed controls are common in hospital and physician-office labs, while unassayed controls are often chosen where a lab prefers to set its own statistical limits.
What is the difference between a calibrator and a control?
A calibrator has assigned target values and is used to set an analyzer's measurement response so that reported patient values are accurate. A control has known or established concentration levels and is run after calibration to confirm that the analyzer stays within acceptable precision and accuracy. Calibrators adjust the instrument; controls monitor it. Both are stocked in this category and are matched to the analyzer platform and reagent system in use.
What concentration levels are quality controls available in?
Most clinical controls in this category are supplied at normal and abnormal levels, and many multi-analyte lines add a third level to cover the low, mid and high decision points of the reportable range. Linearity and calibration verification sets are supplied as graded panels of five or six levels across the analytical measurement range. Level configuration is listed per product by manufacturer and lot.
Can hospitals and reference labs order quality controls in bulk?
Yes. Quality controls, calibrators and verification standards are stocked in case quantities for hospital laboratories, reference and independent labs, physician-office labs and licensed distributors. Standing order programs are available so that control and calibrator lots arrive on schedule with reagent lot changes and proficiency testing cycles. Contact our procurement team for tiered case pricing and standing order setup.
What quality control products should be included in a laboratory formulary?
A laboratory QC formulary typically includes multi-analyte chemistry and immunoassay controls at two or three levels, hematology and coagulation controls matched to the CBC and PT/aPTT platforms in use, calibrators and linearity verification sets for each analyzer, urine chemistry controls, and any discipline-specific control slides. Composition follows the lab's analyzer roster and test menu. MAP Medical builds consolidated QC formulary packages matched to platform and test volume - contact our team for an assessment.