QC Parameter Configuration

QC parameters define what your staff measures during daily quality control checks. Each parameter is associated with a specific piece of equipment and includes the measurement type, acceptable range, target value, and display settings.

Access: Directors (lab_admin) and Network QA Managers (org_admin) only.

Accessing QC Parameter Configuration

Go to Admin Panel from the sidebar, then select QC Parameters. Parameters are grouped by equipment, with each equipment section expandable.

The Parameter List View

The QC Parameters page shows:

Equipment sections that expand or collapse by clicking the equipment name
A count of active parameters per equipment
Each parameter row with: name, type, unit, acceptable range, target value, parameter group, and active status

Use the search field to find specific parameters quickly.

Adding a New QC Parameter

Expand the equipment section where you want to add a parameter.
Click Add Parameter.
Fill in the form:

Parameter Name

The name displayed to staff during QC checks (e.g., "Temperature", "CO2 Level", "Door Seal Check"). Use names that are clear and unambiguous.

Parameter Type

Type	Use for
Decimal	Measurements requiring decimal precision: temperature (37.2°C), gas percentages (6.1%), pressure (14.7 PSI)
Integer	Whole number counts: alarm counts, cycle numbers, particle counts
Binary (Pass/Fail)	Yes/no or pass/fail checks: door seal integrity, alarm function test, visual inspection
Date	Tracking dates: reagent expiration, calibration due dates, filter change dates
Dropdown List	Selecting from predefined options: media lot number, color indicators, condition ratings
Free Text	Open-ended notes or observations

For Binary parameters, configure the label style:

Pass / Fail
Yes / No
True / False

For Dropdown parameters, define the list of options and which options are considered out of range.

Acceptable Range (Numeric and Integer types)

Lower Limit — The minimum acceptable value
Upper Limit — The maximum acceptable value

Any value below the lower limit or above the upper limit is flagged as out of range. Set these based on your equipment manufacturer specifications and laboratory standards.

Target Value (Numeric and Integer types)

The ideal or expected value. This appears as a reference point for staff during data entry and is used in Levey-Jennings charts and statistical analysis.

Examples:

Temperature target: 37.0°C (range 36.5–37.5°C)
CO2 target: 6.0% (range 5.7–6.3%)

Units

The unit of measurement displayed alongside the value. Quick-select options include:

°C, °F, %, PSI, cm, in, mm, mL, L, pH, mmHg, kPa, ppm, RPM, g, mg, µg, mOsm/kg, bar, CFU

You can also type a custom unit.

Display Order

A numeric value controlling the order parameters appear within their equipment group. Lower numbers appear first. You can also drag and drop to reorder parameters visually.

Parameter Group

An optional grouping that collects related parameters across different equipment. For example, assigning all temperature parameters to the "Temperature" parameter group allows the QC workflow to present all temperature readings together in a single step.

Common parameter groups:

Temperature
CO2
O2
Humidity
Gas

Active Status

Inactive parameters do not appear in QC workflows, but their historical data is preserved. Use this to temporarily disable a parameter without losing its records.

Sensor-Linked Indicator

If a parameter is mapped to a PharmaWatch monitoring zone, a sensor icon indicates the link. During Morning QC, values are automatically imported from PharmaWatch. Staff can still enter manual values that override automated readings.

Click Save.

Editing Parameters

Click Edit on a parameter row.
Modify any fields.
Click Save.

Changes to parameter limits affect future QC checks only. Historical records retain the limits that were in effect when values were recorded.

Reordering Parameters

Click the Reorder button on the equipment section header.
Drag parameters up or down to the desired order.
Click Save Order.

The display order affects how parameters appear in the Morning QC Check and End-of-Day Check.

Quick-Fill Presets

When adding parameters, a Quick Fill option loads pre-configured parameter sets for the equipment type. For example, a CO2 Incubator quick-fill might populate:

Temperature (°C): 36.5–37.5, target 37.0
CO2 (%): 5.7–6.3, target 6.0
O2 (%): 4.7–5.3, target 5.0

You can modify any preset value after loading.

Applying Type Defaults to Existing Equipment

If equipment of a given type is missing some of that type's default parameters, an Apply defaults button appears on the equipment-type section header showing how many parameters are missing (for example, "Apply defaults (4 missing)"). Clicking it lists the parameters that will be created — existing parameters are never changed — and creates them all in one click.

After applying defaults, review the created ranges and targets: defaults may differ from your lab's validated ranges.

Deleting vs. Deactivating Parameters

Prefer deactivating over deleting. Deactivated parameters no longer appear in QC workflows, but their historical records are preserved. Deleting a parameter removes it from future workflows — historical records are kept, but the parameter cannot be easily restored.

Best Practices

Set evidence-based limits — Base acceptable ranges on manufacturer specifications, accreditation standards, and your lab's validated performance data. Do not set limits arbitrarily.
Always include target values — Target values help staff understand the expected reading, not just the acceptable range. This improves measurement awareness.
Use parameter groups consistently — If you assign temperature parameters to a parameter group on one incubator, do the same on all incubators. Consistent grouping enables useful combined views in the QC workflow.
Review limits periodically — As equipment ages or standards change, review and update limits. Overly tight limits cause excessive OOR alerts; overly loose limits miss real problems.
Order parameters logically — Arrange parameters in the order staff naturally check them. For an incubator: temperature first, then CO2, then O2.
Use descriptive names — "Temperature (Internal)" is more useful than "Temp" when the equipment has both internal and external temperature readings.
Minimize free text parameters — Use structured types (numeric, boolean, dropdown) whenever possible. Free text is harder to analyze and trend over time.