Gap Analysis as A Tool for Improving the Quality of Educational Laboratories an Applied Study of the Phantom Laboratory at the Faculty College of Dentistry, Gilgamesh University, in Accordance with GLP Requirements

The present research aims to do a systematic gap analysis to measure the degree of the compliance of the Dental Laboratory (Phantom) at Faculty of Dentistry-Gilgamesh University from the requirements of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and its conformity to the Iraqi standards for educational laboratory quality (edition 2022). The research is based on a strict checklist taken from the OECD/DAIDS/ICMR documents and linked with Iraqi standards. In addition to this framework, the scope and practical application of GLP principles in a laboratory setting can be elaborated further. The methodology includes self-assessment, internal auditing, calculation of compliance rates and gap size and formulation of a corrective action plan (CAPA) with specific timelines and responsibilities. The results showed that the largest gaps are concentrated in areas related to digital transformation in the laboratory: SOPs, data integrity, and computer systems. The findings demonstrate that this GLP-based gap analysis model is a practical framework for evaluating educational laboratory quality in accordance with Iraqi standards. Its application may support quality improvement, broader implementation across universities, and academic accreditation efforts.