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Related Experiment Videos

Interpretation of EQA results and EQA-based trouble shooting.

Gunn Berit Berge Kristensen1, Piet Meijer2

  • 1The Norwegian EQA Program (NKK), Bergen Norway.

Biochemia Medica
|April 11, 2017
PubMed
Summary

External Quality Assessment (EQA) helps detect analytical errors. This paper details interpreting EQA results and a flowchart for handling deviations, crucial for laboratory quality control.

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Area of Science:

  • Clinical Chemistry
  • Laboratory Medicine
  • Quality Assurance

Background:

  • External Quality Assessment (EQA) is vital for identifying analytical errors and implementing corrective actions in laboratories.
  • Interpreting EQA results requires understanding factors like control material, target values, and reagent variations.
  • Deviating EQA results can stem from issues with sample commutability or target value accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline the knowledge essential for interpreting External Quality Assessment (EQA) results.
  • To present a structured approach for handling deviating EQA results.
  • To introduce a troubleshooting flowchart developed by the Norwegian Clinical Chemistry EQA Program (NKK) and ECAT Foundation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of key factors influencing EQA result interpretation: control material, target value, replicates, acceptance limits, and reagent lot variations.
Keywords:
EQA errorbetween lot variationcommutability, reference methodexternal quality assessment

Related Experiment Videos

  • Discussion of ideal EQA sample properties: commutability and accurate target value establishment.
  • Development and refinement of a flowchart for guiding laboratories in managing deviating EQA results.

    • Main Results:

    • EQA interpretation is influenced by five critical points, impacting error source identification.
    • Non-commutable samples or inaccurate target values can lead to misleading EQA results.
    • A practical flowchart has been developed to aid laboratories in documenting actions for deviating EQA results.

    Conclusions:

    • Effective interpretation of EQA results is fundamental for analytical error detection and correction.
    • A systematic approach, including a dedicated flowchart, enhances laboratory response to EQA deviations.
    • The developed troubleshooting tool will be publicly accessible, promoting standardized EQA management.