Methods are provided for end users of diagnostic measurement procedures to prepare quality controls having desired analyte recoveries, estimate recoveries of quality controls already prepared, and compare estimated and measured recoveries. To prepare a quality control containing a particular analyte, a desired recovery of a measurement procedure for the analyte can be scaled by a correlation factor to obtain a target nominal concentration of the analyte in the quality control. Alternatively, the nominal concentration of an analyte in a quality control can be scaled by a correlation factor to obtain a predicted recovery of a measurement procedure for the analyte. The correlation factors can be based on recovery data previously obtained using the measurement procedure and optionally one or more reference procedures, and can be calculated using regression analysis of these data. Each quality control can be prepared by dissolving a number of solid beads containing the analyte(s) of interest in a volume of base matrix.