Quality assessment program in histopathology: a pilot study from Maharashtra.

Histopathology reports are important quality assurance tools and evaluation of pathological diagnoses described in them is an integral part of total quality control and quality improvement program. We describe a program based on slide circulation which was aimed at both continuing education to upgrade knowledge and proficiency testing of histopathologists. The performance of the participating pathologists was analyzed and the degree of agreement was also studied. The results showed improvement indicated by rising level of performance in 35.3% of consistent participants and increasing trend in the average score. The degree of agreement was comparatively low (65.29%). The practicability of this program and its acceptability as an EQAS was also investigated.