QC Program Research Articles

Assays for human cytokines and their interpretation

Summary Assays for cytokines have become a part of a laboratory repertoire at many institutions. As the knowledge of cytokine biology and their role in human disease accumulates, cytokine assessment is likely to become even more extensive. It is essential that this assessment be performed expertly, preferably in clinical laboratories with established QC and QA programs, and interpreted accurately. The correct interpretation of results is a key to defining and validating clinical usefulness of cytokine assays. More than a single assay may be necessary to confirm the involvement of a cytokine in a disease. Cytokines mediate interactions between various cells and they are also involved in signaling within the cell. The wide choice of cytokine assays available today offers possibilities for evaluating diverse aspects of the cytokine biology. Monitoring strategies for biotherapy trials as well as cytokine profiling in disease are likely to represent major efforts of clinical immunology laboratories in the immediate future.

Stratified production process: sensitivity of detecting a single stratum shift

The commitment to statistical process control programmes is becoming commonplace in US industry. However, some companies are experiencing failure of these programmes, particularly in multi‐strata (population) production processes. Even if such a process is in a state of statistical control, there is a high likelihood that one or more strata could drift away from the target owing to an assignable cause. The success of a QC programme depends on the ability of a quality control practitioner to detect this shift with a greater statistical power (sensitivity) and take corrective actions. Addresses the problem faced by the multi‐strata production process of a local manufacturing company in detecting a single stratum shift from the target with a high level of sensitivity. Proposes the selection of an appropriate sampling method (stratified or random) to have a strong bearing on the relative sensitivity of detecting the above shift in a single stratum. Develops power curves for the above mentioned process under stratified and random sampling scenarios, when a shift occurs in a single stratum. Examines the relationship of sample size to the threshold level of the stratum shift and the preferred sampling method.

40.QCプログラムからみた手関節側位撮影における整位についての考察

40.QCプログラムからみた手関節側位撮影における整位についての考察

Quality by a step-by-step program in low scale industries

This paper focuses on the effectiveness of the on-line QC in the low scale or experience industries. The basis of the study is the manufacturing process of trams in Sweden. The result indicates that the QC program demands a solid base to be effective from the beginning of its implementation. Empirical results show that during the off-line process the lead-time in the production was reduced by 50% and the mean cycle time of the storage is decreased by 33%. Formally, quality tools are investigated as regards the scale of the industry.

Results of a QC program for estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER, PR) assays in Canada

Results of a QC program for estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER, PR) assays in Canada

269 QCプログラムを利用した当院における排除分析について-第5報-

269 QCプログラムを利用した当院における排除分析について-第5報-

40.QCプログラムからみた手関節側位撮影における整位についての考察(第23回秋季学術大会一般研究発表予稿)

40.QCプログラムからみた手関節側位撮影における整位についての考察(第23回秋季学術大会一般研究発表予稿)

268 QC PROGRAMによる直接撮影の排除分析

268 QC PROGRAMによる直接撮影の排除分析

143. QCプログラムを利用した当院における排除分析 : 第四報

143. QCプログラムを利用した当院における排除分析 : 第四報

106. QC プログラムを利用した当院における排除分析について第 3 報(管理技術-QC)

106. QC プログラムを利用した当院における排除分析について第 3 報(管理技術-QC)

143. QC プログラムを利用した当院における排除分析第 4 報 (第 22 回秋季学術大会一般研究発表予稿)

143. QC プログラムを利用した当院における排除分析第 4 報 (第 22 回秋季学術大会一般研究発表予稿)

105. QC プログラムを利用した当院における排除分析について第 2 報(管理技術-QC)

105. QC プログラムを利用した当院における排除分析について第 2 報(管理技術-QC)

Analysis of Image Quality Parameters Using a Combination of an ANSI Type Phantom and the Leeds TOR(CDR) Test Object in Simulations of Simple Examinations

Following the criteria of the British Institute of Radiology a global image quality test, employing the Leeds TOR(CDR) test object has been systematically used as a starting point of a QC programme in the Madrid area. In order to guarantee the correlation of the image quality of the phantom with the CEC image quality criteria and other criteria from the radiological point of view, some patient equivalent structures (similar to those described in the ANSI type phantom) have been joined to the Leeds TOR(CDR) test object. A novel use of TOR(CDR) is presented that attempts to assess image quality under conditions more relevant to some clinical applications. From the results presented, some conclusions are drawn relating to the suitability and accuracy of using mixed phantoms such as the one described.

106. QC プログラムを利用した当院における排除分析について第 3 報(第 21 回秋季学術大会一般研究発表予稿)

106. QC プログラムを利用した当院における排除分析について第 3 報(第 21 回秋季学術大会一般研究発表予稿)

57. QC プログラムを利用した当院における排除分析について(施設管理技術)

57. QC プログラムを利用した当院における排除分析について(施設管理技術)

105. QC プログラムを利用した当院における排除分析について第 2 報(第 21 回秋季学術大会一般研究発表予稿)

105. QC プログラムを利用した当院における排除分析について第 2 報(第 21 回秋季学術大会一般研究発表予稿)

57. QC プログラムを利用した当院における排除分析について(第 20 回秋季学術大会一般研究発表予稿)

57. QC プログラムを利用した当院における排除分析について(第 20 回秋季学術大会一般研究発表予稿)

Two-site in-house quality control for estrogen receptor (ER) assay

As no external Quality Control Program has existed for ER assay since 1988, and commercial preparations are either unsuitable or expensive, a local QC program was set up between our hospitals. An ovarian tumour with high levels of ER was obtained. Cytosol was prepared, aliquoted into Nunc cryotubes and stored at -70°C. This material has been used in each ER assay (Abbott ER-EIA) at both the hospitals since January 1989. Mean cytosol ER values have not changed significantly over a 2.5 year period (see table). The difference in results between the laboratories was primarily due to different methods of proteins estimation. Mean intra-assay coefficients of variation (CV) were 2.1% and 4.8% for RWH and RMH respectively.RWHRMHNMEANSDCVNMEANSDCV1989 RESULTS378513154011728241990 RESULTS409918173810820181991 RESULTS19105131324140139.4 The cytosol preparation, although stable when frozen, was quite heat labile. It showed partial loss of activity after 10 minutes at room temperature, and total loss of activity after 30 minutes at 37°C. If stored at -70°C, it remains stable over at least two years, and provides a suitable cheap source of QC material. It, however, does not address the issue of inter-hospital error introduced in the homogenisation process.

Quality control in the analysis of lead and cadmium in blood

An extensive quality control programme has been developed within a global UNEP/WHO project on Assessment of Exposure to Lead and Cadmium through Biological Monitoring. This project was coordinated by the Karolinska Institute (Department of Environmental Hygiene) and the National (Swedish) Institute of Environmental Medicine. The project was carried out within the framework of UNEP's Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) and was initiated in 1978 on the basis of recommendations from a UNEP/WHO meeting of a Government Expert Group on Health-Related Monitoring. On termination of the project in 1981 it was decided to extend the analytical QC assurance programme on a periodic basis in order to maintain the analytical capability of the participating laboratories. A QC programme was conducted by our Institute in a follow-up study of the above mentioned UNEP/WHO programme and for a National Swedish Board of Occupational Safety and Health project, as well as for a recently concluded project in which a decrease in bloodlead levels in residents of Stockholm for the period 1980–1984 was established. In the latter project decreased blood-lead levels of about 20% were found in samples stored frozen (−20 ° C) for 4 years. This finding stimulated a study of the long-term stability of our QC samples. Results of lead and cadmium analyses performed for each QC sample during 1980–1985 were computerized. The results showed that the QC samples appeared to be stable for 2–3 years when stored at −20 °C. The losses of cadmium were 5 –10% in 5–6 years of storage at −20 ° C and seem to be less than those of lead (7–15%). Analysis of several QC sets, prepared on different occasions, but analyzed on the same day, confirmed that losses occur.

Quality Control Activities for Total Management in Japanese Hotels

Many people have been amazed by the present level of economic prosperity in Japan. What is not realized is the fact that Quality Control has been the most significant contributing factor to this rise. It has been proven advantageous to have a complete understanding of Quality Control activities. This paper explains in a step-by-step fashion the implementation of a QC program, the guidelinesfor the development of QC activities, the procedurefor introducing QC circles to Service Indiistries, and the advantages of utilizing this program in a hotel cotttpany. An actual QC seminar has been outlined and aids in developing a true understanding of the program.