External Proficiency Testing Program Research Articles

Impact of the lipid PLUS external proficiency testing program on the measurement of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol

Impact of the lipid PLUS external proficiency testing program on the measurement of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol

Impact of the LIPID PLUS external proficiency testing program on the measurement of cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL

Impact of the LIPID PLUS external proficiency testing program on the measurement of cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL

Evaluation of two commercially available photometers for blood donor haemoglobin measurement

Two commercially available portable haemoglobin measuring devices (Delphi Haemoglobin Meter and HemoCue) were evaluated both within the laboratory and under routine operating conditions in blood donation collection centres. Both meters demonstrated satisfactory accuracy when compared to the reference cyanmethaemoglobin (HiCN) method. Within-run and between-run precision of both meters was satisfactory. There was no significant difference evident between capillary and venous haemoglobin results using either meter. In the main blood collection centre, using Delphi meters, 63.1% of results returned from an external proficiency testing program were acceptable (± 2SD of Quality Control Laboratory result). In satellite centres using Delphi meters 36.5% were acceptable while 60.0% of HemoCue results from satellite centres were acceptable. Assay time was almost twice as long using the HemoCue. The study confirmed the necessity to evaluate equipment and operators under both controlled and routine operating conditions. External proficiency testing programs are recommended to monitor operator performance on a regular basis.

Centers for Disease Control performance evaluation program in bacteriology: 1980 to 1985 review.

This report presents a summary and analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control performance evaluation program in bacteriology for the 6-year period 1980 to 1985. During this period, the number of laboratories enrolled in the program ranged from about 750 to 1,000. Identification results reported by participating laboratories for representative species of six major groups of bacteria were placed into five response categories that were based on the level and accuracy of the identifications. Data on the performance of participants with bacterial groups and performance with selected species within each major group were analyzed. Overall, participants experienced the least difficulty in identifying species or serogroups of members of the gram-positive and gram-negative cocci. Participants encountered greater difficulties with anaerobes, gram-positive bacilli, and miscellaneous gram-negative bacteria. Identification of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae was of moderate difficulty. Problems in identifying certain bacterial species were probably related to a number of factors such as the characteristics of the species, its frequency of occurrence, the state of technology available for identification, and the state of proficiency and quality control in individual laboratories at the time of testing. Examples are given of improvements over time in the identification of certain bacterial species. Laboratories participating in an external proficiency testing program should take full advantage of the benefits of participation by instituting measures to correct testing deficiencies identified by the program.