Design of Analytical Run Length for Clinical Chemistry Analytes

The expected number of unacceptable patient results E (Nu) can be set as a patient-based quality goal. Analytical run length can be designed to limit E (Nu) < 1.

The new internal quality control (IQC) strategy and length of analytical run for each analyte was applied to routine IQC paralleled with the way before redesign. IQC charts were produced by QC test results to analyze and compare the performance of out-of-control error detection.

Optimal analytical run lengths designed by the quality control computer software QCCS 2008 were 39 for albumin, 61 for cholesterol, 900 for triglycerides, 112 for aspartate aminotransferase, 279 for lactate dehydrogenase, 267 for alcaline phospatase, 363 for total bilirubin, 151 for ceatinine, 230 for uric acid, 46 for phosphorus PHOS, 158 for carbon dioxide, and 580 for glucose. After being redesigned, IQC strategies for ALB, CHOL, and PHOS detected more out-of-control error than before and achieved more cost-effectiveness.

Using E (Nu) as a QC performance measure, frequency of QC testing can be objectively designed. Additionally, new QC strategies can help find more problems of testing systems and promote efficiency and cost savings.