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【Objective】 To conduct the laboratory quality assessment between 12 blood stations in Hebei province, analyze the results and explore the accuracy and comparability of testing, so as to improve the level of testing ability and quality management. 【Methods】 With reference to the external quality assessment rules of National Center for Clinical Laboratories and combined with the instructions of quality assessment samples, daily testing process of the laboratories were assessed. The quality indicators include blood cell count (WBC, RBC, Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC and PLT), biochemical items (TP) and coagulation parameters (FIB and FⅧ). 【Results】 There are still problems in laboratories in terms of personnel operation, instrument maintenance and the impact of different reagent batches, especially in biochemical items and coagulation parameters. The pass rate of biochemical items was the lowest, only 72.75%, and that of blood cell count was the highest, reaching 98.75%. 【Conclusion】 With the progress of the project, the quality monitoring level of daily blood sampling tests in the quality control laboratory of each blood station has been improved. However, it is still necessary for each laboratory to improve the testing ability and quality management to a higher level in Hebei.
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Objective To analyze result of the external quality assessment for laboratories of toxicological pathology diagnosis in organizations in China. Methods A total of 86 organizations that participated in the 2020-2021 external quality assessment in laboratory of toxicological pathology diagnosis (hereinafter referred to as "reference units") were selected as research subjects using convenient sampling method, and the assessment results were analyzed. Results The median of total score was 92, and the 0-100 percentiles were 64-100 in these 86 reference units. Among these reference units, 76 were rated as excellent, 10 as qualified, with the excellent and the qualified rate of 88.4% and 11.6%, respectively. No reference unit was rated as unqualified. The rates of excellence of the reference units in public health institutions, pharmaceutical research institutions, drug safety evaluation centers and testing companies were 95.7%, 84.2%, 85.7% and 86.7%, and the qualified rates were 4.3%, 15.8%, 14.3% and 13.3%, respectively. The distribution of excellence and qualification among the four types of reference units showed no statistical difference (P>0.05). The distribution of sample scores according to the three grades of poor, good, and excellent were 4.9%, 20.7%, and 74.5% in public health institutions, 8.6%, 23.7%, and 67.8% in pharmaceutical research institutions, 12.5%, 25.0%, and 62.5% in drug safety evaluation centers, and 5.4%, 17.5%, and 77.1% in testing companies. The proportion of excellence unit in public health institutions was higher than that in pharmaceutical research institutions (P<0.05). Conclusion The overall toxicological pathology diagnostic capabilities in China are good, and various types of reference units demonstrate comparable technical capabilities. However, there is a need for standardization of diagnostic terminology.
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Objective:To analyze the implementation of the external quality assessment plan for quality indicators of clinical laboratories in China from 2016 to 2021, as well as that of the external quality assessment of 15 quality indicators in clinical laboratories, in order to provide reference for quality management of clinical laboratory specialties.Methods:The research data was collected from the external quality assessment plan for quality indicators, which was conducted by the National Center for Clinical Laboratories joining the clinical laboratory centers of 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly). The essential information reported by each participating clinical laboratory from 2016 to 2021 and the external quality assessment data of 15 quality indicators in clinical laboratories were collected, followed by a descriptive analysis on the number of participating laboratories and the number of returns for each indicator. Median representation was used for the external quality assessment data of 15 quality indicators in clinical laboratories, and the TOPSIS method was applied to comprehensively evaluate the quality of the total testing process of participating clinical laboratories in each year.Results:From 2016 to 2021, the number of laboratories participating in the external quality assessment plan for quality indicators of clinical laboratory increased from 7 704 to 12 142. Quality indicators in pre-analytical phases: the incorrect sample type rate, incorrect sample container rater, and incorrect fill level rate had been decreasing year by year, reaching 0, 0, and 0.005 8% in 2021, respectively. The anticoagulant samples clotted rate had decreased from 0.068 6% in 2016 to 0.042 8% in 2021, and the blood culture contamination rate from 2017 to 2021 had been 0 without exception. The pre-examination turnaround time had been shortened from 28 minutes in 2016 to 2019 to 24 minutes in 2020 and 2021. Quality indicators in analytical phases: the intra-laboratory turnaround time had been extended from 45 minutes in 2016 to 2019 to 50 minutes in 2020 and 2021. Test covered by an IQC rate had been increasing year by year, reaching 60.61% in 2021. Test with inappropriate IQC performances rate was 0 in 2020 and 2021, the test covered by an EQA-PT control rate was 100%, and unacceptable performances in EQA-PT schemes rate from 2017 to 2021 was 0. The inter-laboratory comparison rate had increased from 1.56% in 2016 to 3.00% in 2021. Quality indicators in post-analytical phases: the incorrect laboratory reports rate, critical values notification rate and timely critical values notification rate had been 0, 100%, and 100%from 2016 to 2021 respectively. The comprehensive evaluation results of TOPSIS method showed that the overall quality level of clinical laboratory testing in 2020 was the highest, with Ci value of 0.850 5, while the lowest Ci value in 2016 was 0.143 6. Conclusions:The quality of clinical laboratory testing in China has been effectively improved. Clinical laboratories should continue to strengthen their monitoring of quality indicators, especially the intra-laboratory turnover time and the inter-laboratory comparison rate, for the purposes of identifying errors, analyzing causes and taking corrective measures to improve quality.
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To implement the strategy of test, track and treat to tackle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the number of real-time RT-PCR–based testing laboratories was increased for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in the country. To ensure reliability of the laboratory results, the Indian Council of Medical Research initiated external quality assessment (EQA) by deploying inter-laboratory quality control (ILQC) activity for these laboratories by nominating 34 quality control (QC) laboratories. This report presents the results of this activity for a period of September 2020 till November 2020. A total of 597 laboratories participated in this activity and 86 per cent of these scored ?90 per cent concordance with QC laboratories. This ILQC activity showcased India’s preparedness in quality diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2.
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Objective:To construct a prokaryotic expression vector for human retinol binding protein 4 (hRBP4) that allows technicians to obtain hRBP4 purified protein with low cost, high efficiency, high concentration and high purity.Methods:The hRBP4 coding sequence provided by National Center for Biotechnology Information was optimized by E. coli codons, and a synthetic DNA fragment was cloned into the PET-28A (+) prokaryotic expression vector to construct a recombinant hRBP4 expression plasmid. The recombinant protein was transformed into E. coli BL21, and the induced expression conditions (temperature, rotate speed and isopropyl β-d-thiogalactoside concentration) were optimized. The recombinant protein was purified by His fusion tag. Results:The recombinant hRBP4 prokaryotic expression plasmid was successfully constructed, and the expression concentration and induction temperature of the recombinant protein were optimized. The results of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that a band with a relative molecular weight of 26 000 daltons was clearly visible in the purified product. The purified hRBP4 protein could be detected clinically, and there was a good linear relationship between the dilution ratio and the detection concentration.Conclusions:The recombinant hRBP4 protein has high purity, high concentration, and short production cycle. It has the potential to become a candidate for reference materials for laboratory quality evaluations.
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【Objective】 To conduct a retrospective analysis of HIV Ag-Ab detection by ELISA in our blood center, so as to provide reference for continuous improvement. 【Methods】 The reactive rate of HIV by each reagent, reactive rate of both reagents, re-test rate, concordance rate of initial-repeat test, and reagent utilization rate were counted, and the external quality assessment results were analyzed by PT score and z-ratio. 【Results】 The total reactive rate of HIV was 0.15%. The reactive rate by both reagents was 0.02%. The re-test rates, reactive rates, concordance rates and reagent utilization rates of the two reagents were 0.09% vs 0.08%, 0.07% vs 0.06%, 75.86% vs 78.21%, and 114.54% vs 113.92%, respectively. PT score was 100%, and z-ratio of 7 negative samples and 1 positive sample was less than 2, and of 2 positive samples was more than 3. 【Conclusion】 The laboratory quality monitoring indicators and external quality assessment can effectively monitor the operation of blood testing laboratory.
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【Objective】 To evaluate the laboratory's NAT ability by analyzing the feedback reports of nucleic acid test (NAT) results of external quality assessment (EQA) of National Center for Clinic Laboratories (NCCL), so as to improve the laboratory management details and ensure blood safety. 【Methods】 The data of NCCL NAT EQA of blood screening laboratory of Tianjin Blood Center (a total of five occasions from Jan 2019 to Jun 2021) were statistically analyzed. 【Results】 From Jan 2019 to Jun 2021, the laboratory participated in EQA for five times and all the results were qualified. The test results of NAT EQA HIV RNA/HCV RNA/HBV DNA detected by R1, R2 and R4 were consistent with the reference results. R3 showed false positive results (CT value 40.46) in the single donation detection of sample No.1925 in HCV RNA. Unreported data of the laboratory was that in the first EQA in 2021, the R4 showed false positive results (CT value 35.8) in in the single donation detection of sample No.2113 in HIV RNA. 【Conclusion】 The performance of each NAT screening system in our laboratory is relatively stable except occasional false positive results influenced by every factor. Potential problems can be found and continuously improved by assaying EQA reports and the extended experimental results of EQA samples to further improve the detection ability.
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【Objective】 To analyze the difference of circulating threshold (Ct) of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in blood station laboratories during the external quality assessment, and to put forward suggestions for the quality improvement of participating laboratories. 【Methods】 From 2018 to 2021, the blood station laboratories participated in the external laboratory quality assessment of CITIC including blood screening items with nucleic acid testing method. The data of Roche diagnostic reagent group were used as the source, and the detected Ct values of three groups of quality control samples of HBV A subtype (400 IU/mL), HCV 1b subtype (400 IU/mL) and HIV B genotype (500 IU/mL) were used as the objects. The data were grouped according to quality control (sample) batches, reagent batches and different laboratories. Using the statistical method of variance analysis (assuming P<0.05 as significant), the detected Ct value of each group was analyzed. 【Results】 For the three items (HBV/HCV/HIV), the grouping data involving 42 batches of quality control (13/12/17), 28 batches of reagent (11/8/9) and 57 laboratories (19/19/19) were selected. The grouping analysis of quality assessment batches shows that there was no significant difference between HBV and HCV quality assessment batches, and there was no significant difference between other HIV batches except the two batches of HIV quality assessment samples released in 2021. The grouping analysis of each reagent batch showed that there was no significant difference between each reagent batch for HCV and HIV detection, while there was significant difference between two batches of HBV reagents. After excluding the data groups with significant differences in the quality control batch groups and the reagent batch groups, the detected Ct value of each laboratory group had extremely significant differences in the three items of HBV, HCV and HIV. Through pairing analysis, it was found that four laboratories had significant differences with most other laboratories in the three items, mainly manifested in the high mean value of Ct. 【Conclusion】 For the blood station laboratories with correct test results of quality assessment samples, there are differences in Ct values detected by PCR, which may be mainly caused by the detection ability of the participating laboratories.
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Objectives:To establish a candidate reference method of isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC/MS/MS) for the determination of human plasma normetanephrine, and to evaluate the performance of the method. The method was used to quantify the samples of the external quality assessment program, and to initially evaluate the detection status of plasma normetanephrine.Methods:The isotope standard solution of normetanephrine was selected as the internal standard, the gravimetric method was used for sampling, and the standard curve method was used for quantification. Protein precipitation combined with weak cation solid phase extraction was used for pretreatment, and ultra-high liquid chromatography-coupled triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was used for LC/MS analysis. According to the relevant EP documents, the specificity, matrix effect, detection limit, quantification limit, precision, accuracy, and uncertainty of the method were estimated. This method is used to quantify the samples of the 2020 National Center for Clinical Laboratories external quality assessment program of normetanephrine. Taking the average value of this method as the target value, the optimal allowable total error standard of biological variation as the evaluation limit, the quality of the laboratory testing was evaluated.Results:The method had good specificity, and the interferences and matrix effects did not affect the detection results. The detection limit and quantification limit of plasma normetanephrine were 1.08 pg/g and 3.54 pg/g, respectively. The intra-batch coefficient of variation ( CV) and total CV were 0.43%-1.10% and 0.61%-1.42%, respectively. The relative recovery rates were 98.5%～101.9%. The relative expansion uncertainty of the four plasma samples were 3.10%, 2.34%, 2.16%, and 1.73%, respectively. The results of the external quality assessment program showed that the pass rates of the 202013 and 202014 samples were 80% and 85%, respectively. Conclusions:The study established a candidate reference method of ID-LC/MS/MS for the measurement of plasma normetanephrine. The method is accurate, precise and simple, and is expected to be used as a reference method for the determination of plasma normetanephrine, and can be applied to quantify the samples of the external quality assessment program.
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Objective:To establish the allowable total error (TEa) of the national external quality assessment (EQA) program in line with the current quality level of serum folate measurement in China.Methods:The data of serum total folate test in the clinical laboratory of a hospital in Beijing in 2016 were collected, and the Stata SE 15 software was used for Monte Carlo simulation to obtain the false-negative rate under different bias and inaccuracy conditions. The Origin Pro 9.1 software was used to make the contour figure. The TEa of serum total folate test is derived based on the acceptable false-negative rate. National EQA data of serum total folate in 2020 were collected to calculate the pass rate of participating laboratories and the laboratory pass rate of quality control products at each level under the five TEa derived from the analysis performance on clinical outcomes, biological variation, and the evaluation criterion of national EQA.Results:Based on the influence of analytical performance on clinical outcomes, the TEa was 10%. Under this TEa, the pass rate of the first EQA program of serum total folate in 2020 was more than 80%, and the pass rate of the second time was 73.1%. Under the minimum (46.57%) and appropriate level of TEa (15.52%) derived from biological variation and national EQA evaluation criterion, the pass rate of serum total folate in the two EQA programs in 2020 exceeded 85%.Conclusion:The analytical performance of serum total folate in China cannot meet the requirements of TEa derived based on the effect of analytical performance on clinical outcomes. An appropriate level of TEa derived based on biological variation (15.52%) is suggested as the recommended criterion for the TEa of serum total folate test.
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【Objective】 To summarize and analyze the results of local laboratories participating in China International Transfusion Infection Control (CITIC) Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) External Quality Assessment (EQA). 【Methods】 The basic situation, test reagents, and abnormal results of 9 domestic laboratories participating in NAT EQA from 2018 to 2020 were collected and analyzed. 【Results】 Among 7 545 testing results, submitted by 48 laboratories using 8 test reagents throughout 9 occasions of CITIC, 64% (4 830/7 545) used imported and 36% (2 715/7 545), domestic reagents. Thirty-one abnormal results were reported, with false negative in 61.29% (19/31), false positive 6.45% (2/31), and others 32.25% (10/31). False negative results only appeared in samples with low viral load of HBV A genotype(40 IU/mL), HCV 1b subtype(40 IU/mL) and HIV B genotype(250IU/mL), relatively concentrated in a few laboratories. The frequency of abnormal results was 0.08 per laboratory per CITIC test. 【Conclusion】 The detection capacity of domestic blood stations has been significantly improved along with the routine NAT practice and regular NAT EQA participation over 5~10 years, but laboratory management still needs to be further strengthened to ensure the reagent testing performance and blood safety.
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Humans , Diagnosis , Ethiopia , Health Facilities , Indicators and Reagents , Microscopy , Sensitivity and Specificity , Sputum , TuberculosisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE：To provide reference for promoting individualized medication in clinic. METHODS ：Information on external quality assessment （EQA）projects and approved kits for the guidance of chemical drug use were collected from the websites of National Center for Clinical Laboratories （NCCL） and National Medical Products Administration （NMPA） as of December 31，2019. The number of laboratories participating in each evaluation project was count. Taking EQA projects of clopidogrel and warfarin drug metabolism gene polymorphism detection as examples ，who was with the highest participation rate ， the methods and reagent kits of each laboratory were analyzed so as to analyze the current status of the clinical pharmacogenomics （PGx）in China. RESULTS ：The number of PGx genetic test EQA projects conducted by NCCL increased from 3（2014）to 9 （2019）. The total number of participating laboratories was 926 in 2018，and 1 249 in 2019. The number of laboratories of warfarin and clopidogrel drug metabolism gene polymorphism detection increased from 57 to 300.5 for warfarin and from 124 to 374.5 for clopidogrel. The more widely used methods were fluorescent PCR and PCR-chip hybridization. The number of reagent kits currently approved by NMPA was 7 for warfarin and 15 for clopidogrel ，respectively. But some of the laboratories participating in EQA used self-prepared reagents yet. CONCLUSIONS ：The clinical PGx is in its infancy ，and the awareness of laboratories about EQA is improving；the main method was fluorescence PCR ，but the use of self-made reagents in laboratories is still common ，regulations concerning the approval ，use and supervision still need to be further improved.
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Las determinaciones de los laboratorios clínicos tienen un papel muy importante en la evaluación, diagnóstico, tratamiento y evolución del estado de salud de las personas. La confiabilidad de sus resultados se logra a través del aseguramiento de la calidad y mejora continua. El Programa de Evaluación Externa de la Calidad "Prof. Dr. Daniel Mazziotta" acompaña a los laboratorios de análisis clínicos desde hace 31 años brindando distintas herramientas para garantizar la calidad analítica. Ofrece los servicios de evaluación externa de la calidad, suministro de material para control de calidad interno para determinaciones en Química Clínica y soluciones para control de instrumental y pruebas de suficiencia. Desde la creación del programa se establecieron objetivos estratégicos a desarrollarse en tres etapas: establecimiento, consolidación y apoyo a la gestión de la calidad. Se genera ahora una nueva etapa, cuyo objetivo final es la acreditación. Como primer paso de este ciclo, se implementó un sistema de gestión de la calidad (SGC) de acuerdo a los requisitos establecidos en la norma argentina IRAM-ISO 9001:2015. En agosto de 2019, el Instituto Argentino de Normalización y Certificación (IRAM), representante en Argentina de la International Organization for Standarization (ISO), certificó que el SGC del programa cumple lo establecido en dicha norma. Su aplicación tiene como objetivo asegurar que los servicios ofrecidos satisfagan las necesidades de los laboratorios clínicos cumpliendo los requisitos legales requeridos y asegurando la mejora continua. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir las acciones realizadas en la implementación del SGC y la posterior certificación de IRAM-ISO 9001:2015, por el IRAM.
Clinical laboratory determinations have a very important role in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and evolution of the health status of people. The reliability of their results is achieved through quality assurance and continuous improvement. The External Quality Assessment Programme Prof. Dr. Daniel Mazziotta has been accompanying clinical analysis laboratories for 31 years offering different tools to ensure analytical quality. It provides the services of external quality assessment, supply of material for internal quality control for determinations in Clinical Chemistry and solutions for instrumental control and sufficiency tests. Since the creation of the program, strategic objectives have been established to be developed in three stages: establishment, consolidation and support for quality management. A new stage is now being generated, whose final objective is accreditation. As a first step of this cycle, a quality management system (QMS) was implemented according to the requirements established in the IRAM Argentina standard-ISO 9001:2015. In August 2019, the Argentine Institute for Standardization and Certification (IRAM), representative in Argentina of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), certified that the Programme's QMS complies with the provisions of said standard. Its application aims to ensure that the services offered meet the needs of clinical laboratories by fulfilling the legal requirements and ensuring continuous improvement. The objective of this work is to describe the actions carried out in the implementation of the QMS and the subsequent IRAM-ISO 9001: 2015 certification by the IRAM.
As determinações laboratoriais clínicas têm um papel muito importante na avaliação, diagnóstico, tratamento e evolução do estado de saúde das pessoas. A confiabilidade de seus resultados é alcançada através da garantia de qualidade e melhoria contínua. O Programa de Avaliação da Qualidade Externa "Prof. Dr. Daniel Mazziotta" apoia os laboratórios de análises clínicas há 31 anos, oferecendo diferentes ferramentas para garantir a qualidade analítica. Oferece os serviços de: avaliação externa de qualidade, fornecimento de material de controle interno de qualidade para determinações em Química Clínica e soluções para controle instrumental e testes de suficiência. Desde a criação do programa, os objetivos estratégicos foram estabelecidos para serem desenvolvidos em três etapas: estabelecimento, consolidação e suporte para a gestão da qualidade. Uma nova etapa é agora gerada, cujo objetivo final é a Acreditação. Como primeira etapa desse ciclo, um sistema de gestão da qualidade (SGQ) foi implementado de acordo com os requisitos estabelecidos na norma IRAM Argentina - ISO 9001:2015. Em agosto de 2019, o Instituto Argentino de Normalização e Certificação (IRAM), representante na Argentina da Organização Internacional de Normalização (ISO), certificou que o SGC do programa está em conformidade com as disposições da referida norma. Sua aplicação visa garantir que os serviços oferecidos satisfaçam as necessidades dos laboratórios clínicos, atendendo aos requisitos legais exigidos e garantindo a melhoria contínua. O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever as ações realizadas na implementação do SGQ e a subsequente certificação da IRAM-ISO 9001:2015, pela IRAM.
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Humans , Quality Control , Laboratories , Reference Standards , Certification , Chemistry, Clinical , Health , Health Status , Clinical Laboratory Techniques , Supply , State , Diagnosis , Laboratory Proficiency Testing/methods , Health Services Needs and Demand , AccreditationABSTRACT
Here, we report the results of the first histocompatibility proficiency testing (PT) performed by the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service in 2018. The directly prepared PT specimens of whole blood, sera, and mononuclear cell suspensions were distributed to participants biannually. The number of participants was comparable to that in the previous external PT program, and the response rate was 88%–100%. The accuracy rates for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) A, B, C, DR, and DQ low and high resolution typing were 100%/100%, 100%/98%, 100%/99%, and 99%/98%, respectively; HLA-B27 typing, 99.1%; T cell and B cell crossmatching, 3.1% and 6.0%, respectively; and HLA antibody screening and identification, 100% and 100%, respectively. The results of HLA crossmatching were not reported from four participants due to poor cell viability. Further improvements of the specimen delivery process, grading criteria for crossmatching, and format of participant summary are warranted.
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Humans , Cell Survival , Histocompatibility Testing , Histocompatibility , HLA-B27 Antigen , Leukocytes , Mass Screening , SuspensionsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: External quality assessment (EQA) is important for standardizing cancer biomarker assays, thereby, ensuring accurate and precise results. Although the human epididymis-specific protein 4 (HE4) assay has been increasingly used to detect and monitor ovarian malignancy in Korea, a nation-wide EQA program for HE4 has not been appropriately established. To conduct an EQA program, a large amount of quality control (QC) materials are required. This study aimed to produce HE4 QC materials for an EQA program and evaluate their homogeneity and stability. METHODS: QC materials for three different concentrations of HE4 were produced from the collected remnant sera of 275 patients for whom the HE4 assays were performed. These materials were evaluated for homogeneity between vials and stability during storage. The frozen QC materials were distributed to 13 representative organizations for a provisional EQA. RESULTS: The total coefficient of variation of the HE4 QC materials of three concentrations was 0.75%–1.24%, and no significant differences were noted between vials; therefore, the samples were considered to be homogenous. With respect to stability, the HE4 QC materials were found to be stable till 30 days when frozen and for 24 hours when refrigerated. The results of the provisional HE4 EQA were reviewed and the survey results were reported to each participant. CONCLUSIONS: The HE4 QC materials produced from remnant specimens were found to be homogenous between vials and stable in a frozen condition until 30 days. The findings of this study may be practically applied for establishing a future HE4 EQA program.
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Humans , Male , Epididymis , Korea , Ovarian Neoplasms , Quality ControlABSTRACT
In 2018, the general chemistry proficiency testing program of the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service consisted of the routine chemistry and urine chemistry programs including 32 and 13 test items, respectively. The test method classification system was revised in the routine chemistry program, and a qualitative test of human chorionic gonadotropin was added in the urine chemistry program. The routine chemistry program was conducted 4 times a year, while the urine chemistry program was conducted twice a year. Statistical analysis data for the test method and reagent companies were reported based on the information and results of the test items provided by each institution. Statistics included the number of participating institutes, mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation (CV), median, and minimum and maximum values for each group. Each report included tables, histograms, Levey-Jennings charts, and the standard deviation index showing the statistics of each test item. In the routine chemistry program, more than 1,000 institutions performed the 17 test items, and the number is continuously increasing. CV for each test item showed a tendency to increase with decreasing concentration of the proficiency material but was within 10% in most cases. Alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase were found to have relatively high CVs because of the differences in results among test methods. In the urine chemistry program, albumin and protein showed high CVs, and the distribution of the test method was different from that of the routine chemistry program.
Subject(s)
Academies and Institutes , Alkaline Phosphatase , Chemistry , Chorionic Gonadotropin , Classification , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase , MethodsABSTRACT
Background@#We organized the MEQAS (Mongolian External Quality Assessment Scheme) since 2008, on basis of the Cooperation agreement between Ministry of Health and Sysmex Corporation in the establishment of Hematology external quality control and reference laboratory system.</br> Therefore, since 2017 year we have set up from 1<sup>st</sup> to 4<sup>th</sup> External Quality Assessment (EQA) for blood morphology testing.@*Method@#This EQA for blood morphology testing included 177 clinical pathologists, 57 technologists, and 36 technicians (270 participants in total). We assessed their ability to distinguish the blood cells on a real-time basis online.@*Result, discussion@#Out of all participants, the clinical pathologists got marks ranging 70.1%, technologists got 59.0%, technicians got 58.2%. Continual trainings should be organized by different programs for laboratory specialists. A real-time online method was adopted in an EQA for the first time. This allowed the participants to know their results immediately after completing the assessment. </br> The overall results of the participants were generated in form of graphs immediately after the completion of the EQA. This allowed for visualization of areas where the percentage of correct answers were low, which were explained extensively during the discussion of answers. </br> As the results directly reflect the knowledge and skills of each participants, this form of EQA is suggested to be an extremely useful mean for determining the future education platform.@*Conclusions@#</br>1. The ability of clinical pathologists to distinguish blood cells and to interpretation are unsatisfactory. </br> 2. The ability of biomedical technologists and technicians to distinguish blood cells are unsatisfactory.
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Objective@#To develop a kind of quality control material which simulates clinical specimens for detecting plasma methylated Septin9 (mSEPT9) and investigate the performance for mSEPT9 detection in external quality assessment (EQA) of laboratories. @*Methods@#The cultured Hela and Jurkat cells, known to contain methylated and unmethylated Septin9 gene respectively, were cultured. The genomic DNA of the cells was collected and extracted, and detected by mSEPT9 kit. According to the Ct value, the genomic DNA was diluted into different concentrations of quality control materials with negative plasma. The homogeneity and stability of the quality control materials were evaluated. The panels consisted of 5 blindly coded samples were distributed to EQA participants and the results were summarized and evaluated. @*Results@#The purity and concentration of extracted genomic DNA met with the needs of use and could be used as quality control products for mSEPT9 detection. The homogeneity and stability met with the requirements of China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment. Some of the participating laboratories occurred false positive results and false negative results, and a good linear correlation for the detected results (Ct values) was only observed in about 55.6% of the laboratories. Among the 9 participating laboratories, 7 laboratories (77.8%) performed well, 1 laboratory (11.1%) qualified, and 1 laboratory (11.1%) unqualified. @*Conclusion@#The quality control materials for mSEPT9 detection was successfully developed and the application in external quality assessment should be of great significance for evaluating and improving the detection ability of clinical laboratory.
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Objective@#To analyze the comparability of different detection systems and methods for tumor markers (TM) by reviewing the results of TM external quality assessment (EQA) in Shandong province during 2015 and 2017. @*Methods@#The results of TM EQA from the Shandong Provincial Clinical Laboratory Center during 2015 and 2017 were collected, and grouped by the detection system or method. After outliers were removed by the CLInet EQA software, the mean and coefficient of variation (CV) in each group were calculated with median as the target value. The difference of TM results in different detection systems were compared by the Kruskal-Wallis H test. @*Results@#Taking alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as an example, the average CV of different detection methods of TM EQA during 2015 and 2017 ranged from small to large in order of microparticle enzyme immunoassay, electrochemiluminescence, acridine ester chemiluminescence and chemiluminescence. The trends of CV of the other tumor markers were similar to AFP. The average CV of individual marker in electrochemiluminescence group was lower than that in microparticle enzyme immunoassay group. The intra-group CVs of imported detection systems such as Roche, Beckman etc. were relatively ideal, and the average CVs of most tumor markers were less than 10%. However, the intra-group CVs of domestic detection systems such as Shenzhen Snibe, Zhengzhou Autobio etc. were not ideal, and the average CVs of most tumor markers were more than 10%. The target values of different detection systems varied with different items and batches, and there were great variation in carbohydrate antigen (CA) series. @*Conclusion@#The results of TM detected by the same automatic detection system are comparable. However, the results of TM detected by most different detection systems and methods are not comparable.