Evolution of a national urine quality assurance programme: the Australasian experience, 1981-1983

A national interlaboratory quality assurance programme for quantitative urine analysis has been conducted over the past three years in Australasia under the auspices of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and the Australian Association of Clinical Biochemists. Analysis of urine calcium has consistently improved over the three year period whereas urine protein analysis has consistently declined. Based on the findings in 1983, it is considered that urine sodium, potassium, creatinine, phosphate, glucose, and chloride are currently being measured satisfactorily by Australasian laboratories, while the analyses of urine proteins, urate, oxalate, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid still require substantial improvement.