Who should confirm inconclusive results?

Who should confirm inconclusive results?

• A. The laboratory unless the client wishes to assume they are all positive
• B. The inspector
• C. The client
• D. The regulatory official

Answer: (A)

When a test result is inconclusive, the laboratory that performed the analysis should confirm the result. The lab has the validated methods and QA/QC data needed to resolve uncertainty, often by re-running samples or applying a more definitive analysis. The inspector, client, or regulatory official aren’t the ones who provide the definitive confirmation in routine practice. The client does have the option to treat inconclusive results as positive as a precaution, but that is a risk-management choice rather than the standard confirmation process.

When a test result is inconclusive, the laboratory that performed the analysis should confirm the result. The lab has the validated methods and QA/QC data needed to resolve uncertainty, often by re-running samples or applying a more definitive analysis. The inspector, client, or regulatory official aren’t the ones who provide the definitive confirmation in routine practice. The client does have the option to treat inconclusive results as positive as a precaution, but that is a risk-management choice rather than the standard confirmation process.