[The role of regional research laboratories of the local government in administering regional EQA programs].

In 1981, the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare revised the enforcement of regulations of the Medical Technologists' Act. The amendments stipulate that all independent laboratories are legally obliged to introduce laboratory quality assurance programs and are responsible for the quality of all test results. To ensure adherence to these regulations, regional research laboratories of local governments such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health should conduct regional external quality assessment (EQA) programs.