Practices and Perceived Value of Proficiency Testing in Clinical Laboratories.

Clinical laboratories rely on proficiency testing to maintain quality standards. Prior research has shown that PT is a regulatory requirement under CLIA for nonwaived tests. However, it was already known that PT can also serve nonregulatory functions. That uncertainty drove this study to explore how laboratories perceive PT and whether they use PT results to improve testing quality. No prior work had resolved how widely PT is used beyond compliance. This gap motivated an investigation into practices across different laboratory types. The study examined whether PT is seen as a cost-effective tool for quality improvement. It also aimed to determine if PT resources are adequately utilized. Awareness of PT resources was another key focus. The findings could help inform strategies to enhance PT effectiveness.

The study aimed to assess how clinical laboratories perceive and use proficiency testing (PT). It focused on identifying whether PT is used for quality improvement beyond regulatory compliance. The goal was to determine how PT results are applied in different testing phases. The study also sought to evaluate the perceived cost-effectiveness of PT. Another objective was to examine how PT resources are accessed and used. The survey included five laboratory types: hospital, independent, public health, physician office, and others. The researchers wanted to understand how PT is integrated into laboratory workflows. The findings may help improve PT practices and resource utilization.

The study used a survey to collect data from clinical laboratories. All CLIA-certified laboratories expected to perform required PT were invited to participate. The survey included categorical scale questions to assess PT use. Respondents were asked about PT use in preanalytic, analytic, and postanalytic testing phases. The survey also asked about PT applications for personnel competency and specimen handling. Questions were included to evaluate whether PT was purchased voluntarily. Awareness of PT resources was also assessed. The study analyzed responses from 769 participants across five laboratory types.

Eighty-six percent of respondents used PT to identify analytic phase issues. Seventy-six percent used PT for postanalytic phase problems. Forty-eight percent used PT for preanalytic phase problems. Ninety-three percent used PT to demonstrate personnel competency. Eighty percent used PT for inappropriate specimen handling. Eighty-four percent used PT for incorrect result interpretation. Seventy-seven percent purchased PT voluntarily. Sixty-five percent considered PT worth the cost. Laboratories used leftover PT samples and event summaries to improve quality. The findings suggest PT is underutilized for quality improvement.

The study found that PT is used for quality improvement in clinical laboratories. However, the findings suggest PT is not fully utilized for this purpose. PT is important for identifying testing phase issues and demonstrating competency. Most respondents found PT worth the cost. Voluntary PT purchases indicate perceived value beyond regulatory requirements. Laboratories use leftover PT samples and summaries to enhance quality. The study suggests a need to improve awareness of PT resources. These findings align with the authors' claim that PT can be a more effective quality tool.