The importance of quality control in all aspects of patient care has been stressed. The United Kingdom national external quality assurance scheme [UKNEQAS] has encouraged participants overseas to develop regional quality control schemes. The Jeddah microbiology quality control scheme based largely on methods successfully established by UKNEQAS was initiated at National Guard King Khalid Hospital, Jeddah in 1987. To date, 11 distributions of specimens have been made and two laboratory questionnaires analysed. The provision of freeze drying facilities would allow the expansion of the scheme both in scope and in geographical range. The need to incorporate specimens which reflect the incidence of actual diseases in the Kingdom is recognized