Phase 2 Roadmap

What Phase 2 covers

Phase 2 uses the same twelve-essential framework as Phase 1 but with increased depth and sophistication. Each essential area introduces more advanced activities designed for laboratories that have completed — or are progressing through — Phase 1.

Phase 2 of the GLI Quality Tool is designed for laboratories that have already laid a solid groundwork through Phase 1 and are ready to deepen their commitment to quality management. This phase encourages teams to move beyond the essentials and explore more advanced practices across all twelve Quality Systems Essentials. By building on the foundation of documented processes, trained personnel, and established safety protocols, laboratories can begin to refine their operations with greater precision and confidence. The stepwise approach ensures that each advancement is deliberate and sustainable, allowing staff to absorb new responsibilities without overwhelming the existing system.

The roadmap embedded in Phase 2 emphasizes continual improvement as a core principle rather than a one-time achievement. Laboratories working through this phase will revisit their existing processes with a critical eye, identifying gaps and opportunities for optimization that may not have been apparent during initial implementation. This deeper engagement with quality systems helps organizations move from simply meeting requirements to genuinely embracing a culture of quality. Teams are guided to strengthen their documentation, enhance their internal assessment practices, and develop more robust mechanisms for handling nonconforming events and customer feedback.

A key focus of Phase 2 is the integration of quality activities into the daily rhythm of laboratory work. Rather than treating quality management as a separate administrative burden, this phase helps staff see how structured processes support better testing outcomes, safer working conditions, and more reliable results. Through practical checklists and guided implementation activities, laboratories can systematically address each Quality Systems Essential, from equipment maintenance and purchasing to personnel training and document control. This holistic approach ensures that no critical element is overlooked as the laboratory matures in its quality journey.

For laboratories aiming toward accreditation or international recognition, Phase 2 provides a meaningful bridge between foundational practices and the demands of formal assessment. The activities and checklists offered in this phase support national and subnational laboratories in aligning their operations with internationally recognized standards while remaining practical and context-appropriate. By working through the roadmap at their own pace, teams can build genuine competence and confidence. The result is a laboratory that not only passes inspections but truly operates with quality at its core, benefiting patients, programs, and public health efforts alike.