[Quality Management of Pre-Testing Step of POCT]

To maintain a trusting relationship between clinical and hospital laboratory staff, highly reliable reporting based on precise quality control of the test results is required. Testing work is divided into 3 steps: pre-testing, testing, and post-testing. Quality control (QC) of laboratory testing has been performed to improve the precision and accuracy of measurements after sample collection, mainly in the testing step. However, various factors influencing the measurement results are present in the process from requests for testing to the reporting of the test results, and it is necessary to make efforts to minimize these factors. The characteristics of POCT devices and reagents are their simple operation method, compact size, and use at sites other than laboratories, and most users are physicians and nurses. Sample measurement rooms have opened at sites other than medical institutions, and testing using POCT-compatible devices and reagents has been rapidly spreading. It is very important to clarify factors leading to false high and low values in the pre-testing step. The results of investigating reasons for predicted events were presented, and the necessity of quality management in the pre-testing step was clarified. If the pre-testing step is not properly performed, accuracy cannot be assured even though quality management of the testing and post-testing steps is optimal.