The contribution of proficiency testing to improving laboratory performance and ensuring quality patient care

The idea of comparing laboratories' test results against one another predated federal regulations by decades (1) and was initially used as an educational tool. The introduction of federal regulations altered the proficiency testing (PT) environment (2,3) and today there is concern that the regulatory requirements do not address extraneous factors that may adversely affect a laboratory's PT performance (6). This article aims to address these concerns and hopes to convince the reader that while the scope of PT has expanded beyond its original intent as an educational tool for the laboratory, PT can still function in that capacity. Improvements in laboratory performance and laboratory medicine as a whole continue to be supported by proficiency testing for numerous reasons. Several mistakes laboratories have made in the past are addressed and suggestions for improvement are given. Laboratory managers who take proactive steps to ensure quality patient test results should experience fewer PT failures, and in turn can focus more attention on the educational benefits that participating in PT can offer.