Interlaboratory results for blood lead proficiency testing program in Thailand.

Between December 1994 to 1995, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University have a thirteen laboratory to participate in Blood Lead Proficiency Testing Program (BLPT). Every-month the Toxicology Unit in Faculty of Medical Technology Mahidol University which served for Reference Laboratory Center for BLPT send the three lots of whole blood sample which made from bovine blood to the participants by EMS. After evaluation in term of accuracy: using 75 per cent correctly when compared with the target value. There are nine laboratory which have successful in blood lead below 20 micrograms/dL and three laboratory which passing the analysed when the concentration of blood lead at 21-50 micrograms/dL and 51-80 micrograms/dL. In term of precision evaluation the planning process will show that laboratory using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (GFAAS) reported reliability than using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS). From joining with this program the participants will get three advantages, First the target value from the reference laboratory in Thailand and Singapore are similar with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) from the United State of America which known world wide for Reference Laboratory. In the second participants will develop the analysis and solve the problem by himself, The third advantage: will showing the superior, methodology and instruments which guarantee for quality assurance and guideline to standardized blood lead analysis in the International level.

Evaluation of the causes of error in analysis of routine tests.

The retrospective study is one of the part of quality control circle which will be improve the reliability and efficiency of laboratory service. We evaluated the result from the Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University which served routine analysis for out-patients and in-patients from Siriraj Hospital. After careful screening the random and systematic error we followed the design in planning of laboratory management between June to December 1987, there are 72 cases which had a definitive problem and error which was clarified in three categories:- preanalytical process 15.3%, analytical process 65.3%, and post analytical process 19.5%.