Annual Report on the External Quality Assessment Scheme for Routine Hematology in Korea (2017)

ABSTRACT

Under the Routine Hematology Program of the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service, complete blood count (CBC) and blood cell morphology proficiency tests were performed during 2017. We conducted two trials, sent three control materials for CBC testing, and posted two cell morphology pictures on the website for each trial. Of 1,646 laboratories, the mean response rates for CBC and blood cell morphology were 96.7% and 42.0%, respectively. The distribution of equipment for CBC testing was similar to that of the previous year. The coefficient of variations for white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet counts were 3.7%–4.7%, 2.2%–2.4%, 1.5%–3.0%, 5.4%–6.0%, and 7.2%–10.2%, respectively. More than 80% of the blood cell morphology tests were concordant among all of the trials, except for the HHI-17-03 trial. In 2017, the number of participating laboratories increased, and the performance was similar to that of the previous year.