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Internal Quality Control Practices in Coagulation Laboratories: recommendations based on a patterns‐of‐practice survey
Author(s) -
McFarlane A.,
Aslan B.,
Raby A.,
Moffat K. A.,
Selby R.,
Padmore R.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of laboratory hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.705
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1751-553X
pISSN - 1751-5521
DOI - 10.1111/ijlh.12397
Subject(s) - coagulation , quality (philosophy) , control (management) , medicine , computer science , physics , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence
Summary Introduction Internal quality control ( IQC ) procedures are crucial for ensuring accurate patient test results. The IQMH Centre for Proficiency Testing conducted a web‐based survey to gather information on the current IQC practices in coagulation testing. Methods A questionnaire was distributed to 174 Ontario laboratories licensed to perform prothrombin time ( PT ) and activated partial thromboplastin time ( APTT ). Results All laboratories reported using two levels of commercial QC ( CQC ); 12% incorporate pooled patient plasma into their IQC program; >68% run CQC at the beginning of each shift; 56% following maintenance, with reagent changes, during a shift, or with every repeat sample; 6% only run CQC at the beginning of the day and 25% when the instruments have been idle for a defined period of time. IQC run frequency was determined by manufacturer recommendations (71%) but also influenced by the stability of test (27%), clinical impact of an incorrect test result (25%), and sample's batch number (10%). IQC was monitored using preset limits based on standard deviation (66%), precision goals (46%), or allowable performance limits (36%). 95% use multirules. Failure actions include repeating the IQC (90%) and reporting patient results; if repeat passes, 42% perform repeat analysis of all patient samples from last acceptable IQC . Conclusion Variability exists in coagulation IQC practices among Ontario clinical laboratories. The recommendations presented here would be useful in encouraging standardized IQC practices.