Reasons for Proficiency Testing Failures in Routine Chemistry Analysis in China

Area of Science:

• Clinical Chemistry
• Laboratory Quality Management

Background:

• Proficiency testing (PT) is crucial for evaluating laboratory performance and ensuring service quality.
• Understanding the root causes of PT failures is essential for implementing effective continuous improvement strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the primary reasons behind proficiency testing failures in routine chemistry testing.
• To identify areas for improvement in laboratory services based on PT outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Laboratories participating in the National Center for Clinical Laboratories (NCCL) PT program in China were surveyed in 2016.
• Participants were required to report and investigate errors following unsatisfactory PT performance.

Main Results:

• Technical errors (37.4%) and equipment issues (23.6%) were the most common causes of PT failures.
• Clerical (10.2%) and methodological (16.2%) errors also contributed significantly.
• Issues unique to the PT process accounted for only 15.6% of all reported reasons.

Conclusions:

• Proficiency testing failures are predominantly linked to internal laboratory operational problems rather than flaws in the PT system.
• PT programs, such as the one sponsored by NCCL, serve as effective tools for assessing laboratory performance.
• Laboratories must focus on enhancing their analytical performance and addressing internal deficiencies to reduce PT failures.