Korean analytical quality assurance (KAQUA) program for biological monitoring

The Korean analytical quality assurance (KAQUA) program on biological monitoring was performed by the Industrial Health Research Institute in Korea in spring, 1995. The object of the KAQUA program is to improve the analysis capability for the biological monitoring of hazardous chemicals and to confirm the reliability of data from each laboratory. The items chosen for the first round were analyses of lead in blood (PbB) and of hippuric acid in urine (HAU). Eighty-eight laboratories in Korea participated in this program. Two levels of samples, randomly chosen among six levels for each item, were sent to the participants. The consensus value from participants and reference laboratories was determined by statistical analysis and used as a reference value. The tolerance range was +/-15% (+/-6 micrograms/dl for PbB below 40 micrograms/dl) of the reference value. The mean proficiency rate of analytical data increased dramatically in the first round compared with a pre-round that was provided as part of a training course for participants before performing the first round. The mean proficiency rate of PbB was 69% at pre-round and increased at 91% at the first round; for HAU the increase was from 58% to 88%. Not only the analytical results but also raw data were reviewed to find problems which might have arisen during the analytical process. Re-education courses provided after final evaluation of each participant by means of telephone discussion, correspondence course, and experimental practice, were helpful in achieving the purpose of the analytical quality assurance program.