SIX SIGMA METRICS: INDICATOR OF QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR CLINICAL BIOCHEMSITRY

Abstract

Introduction: In present scenario Quality is the important aspect of laboratory practices. Mostly internal and external quality control are utilized to maintain quality in laboratory. Quality assurance of laboratory services is the need of present time in health care which require Quality Planning, Quality Control (QC), Quality Assessment (QA) and Quality Improvement . Aims & Objectives: 1. To quantify the defects and errors in analytical phase of laboratory testing by sigma metrics and to represent the calculated sigma value. 2. Application of six sigma test in laboratory with the IQC and EQAS to maintain quality laboratory services. Methodology: Study was conducted at Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, GMC Akola. We run IQC samples on daily basis and EQAS samples are running on monthly basis. Retrospectively we utilized data of IQC and EQAS from January to October 2023 for 16 Biochemical Analytes. Sigma metrics for each parameter was calculated. Result: The sigma metrics for IQC indicated that 1 out of 16 analytes qualified six sigma quality performance. Of these 15 analytes performance with sigma metrics was beteween three and six. We found different sigma value like more than6 for only HDL cholesterol and more than 3 for Amylase, Total Bilirunbin, Creatinine, Cholesterol, Glucose, Phosphorus, total Protein , SGPT , TG, UA, Urea, SGOT, which is among the acceptable range of performance. Conclusion: In our study sigma value was highest for HDL cholesterol and other 15 analytes show sigma value between 3 to 6 which is acceptable range. Sigma analysis is a continuous procedure and by taking the help of method decision chart we can improve on decision on making in clinical chemistry laboratory regarding optimising QC procedure.