[Indicators of quality in pathology]

Quality assurance indicators are instruments to evaluate and improve the quality of health care. Indicators do not measure the quality but point at the problems. In Surgical Pathology each technique has common or specific Quality Indicators to test the accuracy, the timeliness and the clinical relevance of pathology reports (e.g. Turnaround Time) and, if possible, the adequacy of the supplied services. The author reports the commonest quality indicators in a Surgical Pathology Service.